STUDY OF BASIC CHEMICAL COMPONENTS AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF LEMONGRASS LEAVES (Cymbopogon citratus)

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity using different concentrations of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of dried lemongrass leaves. Chemical phytochemical tests were performed for aqueous and alcoholic extracts of lemongrass. Antimicrobials activity was tested using agar disc diffusion method against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The results of the study showed that the aqueous extract of dried lemon leaves was highly effective (P≤0.05) against S. aureus, as the inhibition diameter was 22 mm for 50 dilution, while the inhibition diameter decreased to 15 mm for concentration 100. As for the alcoholic extract only, the diameter of inhibition decreased significantly (P≤0.05) as it was 16 mm for 50 dilution, and the diameter of inhibition decreased significantly (P≤0.05) to 8 mm for concentration 100 for S. aureus as well. The results of the study also showed that the effect of the alcoholic extract of lemongrass against E. coli was high, as the inhibition diameter was 20 mm for dilution 50, and a significant decrease (P≤0.05) fell to 12 mm for concentration 100. While the results of the study showed that the effect of alcoholic extract of lemongrass against E. coli the diameter of the inhibition was 14 mm for the dilution of 50, and it decreased significantly (P≤0.05) to zero for the concentration of 100. From all of that, we conclude that both the aqueous and alcoholic extract.