Assessment of Hot Water and Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of Cymbopogon Citrates Stapf (Lemon Grass) against Selected Bacteria Pathogens

This study investigated the comparative activity of hot water and ethanol leaf extracts of Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) against some bacterial pathogens (viz: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aerugionsa and Bacillus subtilis. The lemon grass samples were purchased from Etegwe market in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, Nigeria. Ethanol and hot water was used for the extraction, and agar well diffusion sensitivity method was adopted for the study. The zone of inhibition for E. coli, Pseudomonas aerugionsa, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis were 9.33 mm, 9.33 mm, 11.33 mm and 9.67 mm respectively for hot water leaf extract, and 12.00 mm, 11.33 mm, 12.33 mm and 10.67 respectively for ethanolic leaf extract. There were significant variation (P<0.05) between hot water and ethanolic leaf extracts of Cymbopogon citratus for E. coli and Pseudomonas aerugionsa. Furthermore, apparent superior effects also occurred for Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis but it was not significantly different (P>0.05) between the two solvents. The activity of the leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus against the tested microbes suggests its potential for broad spectrum antibiotics.

Keywords: Antibacterial, Cymbopogon citratus, Disease Control, Medicinal Plants, Solvents