EVALUATION OF PHYTOCHEMICAL

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is widely known for its medicinal and antimicrobial properties, with its extracts being used in traditional and modern medicine. Due to the increasing resistance of bacteria to conventional antibiotics, plant-based antimicrobials have gained attention as alternative therapeutic agents. This study investigated the phytochemical composition and antibacterial activity of hot and cold water extracts of Lemongrass leaves against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas sp. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, and glycosides in both extracts, with glycosides being more prominent in the hot extract. Saponins, steroids, and terpenoids were absent. Antibacterial activity was assessed using the agar well diffusion method, where the hot extract showed higher zones of inhibition at 100% concentration: S. aureus (13.00 ± 0.00 mm), E. coli (16.00 ± 0.00 mm), and Pseudomonas sp. (18.20 ± 0.00 mm), compared to the cold extract: S. aureus (9.0 ± 0.50 mm), E. coli (11.20 ± 0.20 mm), and Pseudomonas sp. (12.00 ± 0.00 mm). The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) revealed that the hot extract inhibited E. coli at 25 mg/ml, Pseudomonas sp. at 50 mg/ml, and S. aureus at 25 mg/ml, while the cold extract only inhibited Pseudomonas sp. at 100 mg/ml and S. aureus at 25 mg/ml. Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) results showed that the hot extract was bactericidal against S. aureus and bacteriostatic against E. coli and Pseudomonas sp., while the cold extract was bactericidal against Pseudomonas sp. and bacteriostatic against the other isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility testing indicated that Gram-positive bacteria were highly susceptible to ciprofloxacin, while Gram-negative bacteria were sensitive to azithromycin. These results highlight the potential application of Cymbopogon citratus as an alternative treatment for bacterial infections, particularly in combating antibiotic-resistant pathogens