Antibacterial Activity of lemongrass plant (Cymbopogan citratus) against pathogens

From the traditional health care system, we use plants as a good source of medicine/drugs. They have been an essential part of traditional health care system as cure or food supplements. Lemon grass (Cymbopogon Flexuosus and Cymbopogon Citratus) is a native aromatic tall sedge/grass belonging to family (Poaceae / Gramineae) with diverse medicinal value and grown in many parts of tropical and subtropical south east Asia and Africa. It was grown in India a century back and now commercially cultivated in different parts of India (Jharkhand, Bihar, UP). The oil has been found to possess bactericidal, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties comparable to Penicillin in its effectiveness. The purpose of study was to find the antibacterial activities of the lemongrass plant Cymbopogon citratus. The crushed leaves of selected plant were extracted with methanol and solvent extracts were evaporated for dryness with help of rotary Incubator. Remaining dry residue was dissolved in (E- Ethanol, Cl- Chloroform, A- Acetone, C- Control) and the leaf sample in four different solvents was applied for its antibacterial action. The antibacterial screening of the selected extracts was determined by the Kirby-Bauer’s Disc diffusion technique on the following bacteria- Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis. The maximum zone of inhibitions was noted with solvent ethanol (11mm) against plate 1(Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and 12mm against plate 2(Bacillus subtilis). The sample dissolved in ethanol showed the maximum zone of inhibition followed by chloroform and least with acetone against both the pathogens.