Antimicrobial Assay of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus DC Stapf.) Leaf Crude Extract, Essential Oils and Ointment

The experiment was conducted at Biology and Chemistry Laboratory of Notre Dame of Marbel University from January 11-15, 2002 to measure the zone inhibition that will be exhibited by E.coli, B.subtilis, S.aureus and P.aeruginosa and to test the Lemongrass leaf crude extract, essential oils and ointment for their antimicrobial activity. The study was carried out in completely randomized design with four treatments. Each of the treatment was replicated thrice. Treatments were as follows: T * 1 = crude extract, T * 2 = essential oils, T * 3 = ointment and T * 4 = antibiotic (control). Mean Values of Antimicrobial Index on four (4) test organisms were analysed using ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) and significant values were further subjected to DMRT (Duncan's Multiple Range Test). Based on the 1% level of significance, Al values among treatments were highly significant. Results revealed that the AI values of Lemongrass crude extract, essential oils and ointment is not statistically comparable to that of control, but significant values exhibited by the three (3) treatments account for the potentiality of the Lemongrass as a bactericidal agent.