Antimicrobial Activity of Cymbopogon Citratus (Lemon Grass) and It’s Phytochemical Properties

The cold maceration and agar diffusion technique were employed to assess phytochemical properties and the antimicrobial potency of Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) against selected microbial pathogens using hexane, chloroform and methanol as extracting solvents. The mean zones of inhibition of the chloroform leaf and corresponding root extracts for the test organisms were Staphylococus aureus (11.33±1.15,11.66±2.52), Salmonella typhi (11.33±1.53,13.66±0.58), Escherichia coli (16.33±0.58,15.66±2.31) and Candida albicans (7.66±0.58,8.66±1.53) respectively. Hexane and methanol extracts showed no activity against the test organisms. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the corresponding minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) for chloroform leaf and root extracts were : Staphylococus aureus (24μg/ml, 28μg/ml), Salmonella typhi (20μg/ml, 28μg/ml), Escherichia coli (14μg/ml, 16μg/ml), Candida albicans (32μg/ml, 38μg/ml) and Staphylococus aureus (20μg/ml, 26μg/ml), Salmonella typhi (18μg/ml, 24μg/ml), Escherichia coli (14μg/ml, 16μg/ml), Candida albicans (28μg/ml, 32μg/ml) respectively. Phytochemical screening on Cymbopogon citratus showed that five active ingredients: Tannins, Flavonoids, Phenols, Carbohydrates and volatile oil were present in both the root and leaf parts. The mean zones of inhibition showed that Cymbopogon citratus exhibited an intermediate antimicrobial activity against the bacteria species while C. albicans was resistant. Higher dose of C. citratus may be recommended to exert a remarkable antimicrobial activity against the test organisms.