Abstract

IN VITRO COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL POTENTIAL OF CYMBOPOGON CITRATUS (DC.) STAPF USING DIFFERENT SOLVENTS

*Prakriti Shahdeo, Dr. Arun Kumar and Vinay Oraon

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Abstract

The exploration of natural products for antibacterial agents has gained significant attention due to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Cymbopogon citratus, commonly known as lemongrass, is renowned for its medicinal properties, including its antibacterial potential. This study aims to comparatively evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of Cymbopogon citratus leaves extract obtained using different solvents: ethanol, methanol, and chloroform. The extraction was performed using standard procedures, and the antibacterial activity was assessed against a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, using the agar disc diffusion method. The results demonstrated that the antibacterial activity varied significantly with the type of solvent used. Ethanol extracts exhibited the highest antibacterial activity. The ethanol extract showed the largest inhibition zones against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, indicating its superior efficacy. Phytochemical analysis revealed that the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and essential oils in ethanol and methanol extracts might contribute to their potent antibacterial effects. This comparative study highlights the importance of solvent selection in maximizing the antibacterial potential of Cymbopogon citratus extracts. The findings suggest that ethanol and methanol extracts of lemongrass could be promising candidates for developing natural antibacterial agents, offering an alternative approach to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Further research is recommended to isolate and characterize the specific bioactive compounds responsible for the observed antibacterial activity.

Keywords: Antibacterial, leaves, Ethanol, Methanol, Chloroform, zone of inhibition.