Anti-Microbial Activity And Phytochemical Screening Of Cymbopogon Martini Leaf Extract

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to determine the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial potential of
Cymbopogon martinii ethanol extract. The result revealed that the leaf extract contained alkaloids,
carbohydrates, tannins and flavonoids, while sterols, saponins and cardiac glycosides were not detected.
Antibacterial activity by agar well diffusion method and using a standard antibiotic (ceftriaxone USP) and
distilled water as controls against selected Gram positive and Gram negative strains; Klebsiella pneumonia
ATCC10031, Bacillus subtilis MCTC8230, Salmonella typhi ATCC9184 and Staphylococcus aureus and a fungus
Candida albican ATCC19231, showed that Staphylococcus aureus had the highest zone of inhibition of
26.5±0.1mm of the extract followed by Bacillus subtilis ACTC8230 with 25.25±0.1mm, Candida albican
ATCC1984 with 23.5±0.2mm, Klebsiella pneumonia ATCC10031 with 22.0±0.1mm while Salmonella typhi
ATCC9184 has 20.5±0.1mm as the least. These results were compared to the diameter zone of inhibition of the
standard drug at p≤0.05 (one-way ANOVA). The study showed that the plant extract possessed antibacterial
activity against the microbes with more potency on Gram positive bacteria strains than Gram negative strains.
Thisstudy therefore, justifiesthe ethnomedicinal use of the plant in the treatment of typhoid fever and sexually
transmitted infections caused by some of these microbes.