Evaluation of the lemongrass plant (Cymbopogon citratus) extracted in different solvents for antioxidant and antibacterial activity against human pathogens

doi:10.1016/S2222-1808(14)60428-X

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Abstract

Objective

To test antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the lemongrass plant Cymbopogon citratus (C. citratus) leaves extracted serially by the solvents (chloroform, methanol and water).

Methods

The plant leaves extracts were used for antibacterial activity on Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, Nocardia sp., Serratia sp., and Enterobacter aeruginosa microorganisms by the Kirby Bauer agar disc diffusion method. This study was carried out on lemongrass plant leaf extracts in different concentration of all solvents. The leaf extracts from different solvents were tested for their scavenging activity against the stable free radical DPPH in quantization using a spectrophotometric assay. Oxidative damage was induced in vitro by treating blood DNA and analyzing the effects of the leaf extracts.

Results

The results showed that C. citratus extracts exhibited maximum zones of inhibition in chloroform, methanol and water extracts. It was Observed that the C. citratus extracts exhibited maximum zone of inhibition against Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris. Analyzed data in the present work suggested that antibacterial activity of C. citratus plant leaf extracts showed good results for Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. DPPH scavenging activity was highly elicited by the extract of C. citratus. Chloroform, methanol and water extracts of C. citratus leaves effectively decreased the extent of DNA damage.

Conclusions

The present study suggested that the lemongrass plant extracts could offer various health benefits.

Keywords

Lemongrass plant;
Cymbopogon citratus;
Antibacterial;
Antioxidant;
Human pathogens

Peer reviewer: Ms. Ede Tyrell, Lecturer, Department of Medical Technology, University of Guyana, Guyana. Tel: (592) 6197300, E-mail: edetyrell1@live.com

Comments: This was a good study that the authors has determined the antibacterial activity, analyzed the chemical antioxidant property, and DNA protective activity against free radicals by lemongrass plant extracts. The results are interesting, and the research suggested that the lemongrass plant (C. citratus) extract has antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity and DNA damage protectively, which might be helpful in preventing various human pathogenic organisms and oxidative stress induced disease.

Foundation Project: This work was financially supported by the Alagappa University Research Fund (AURF) (Grant No. Rc. A13/AURF/2009Dt:30.09.2009).

Available online 28 Jun 2014

: Corresponding author: Balachandar Balakrishnan, Department of Oceanography and Coastal Area Studies, School of Marine Sciences, Alagappa University, Thondi Campus-623 409, Tamilnadu, India. Tel: +91 9965890896

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Wednesday, 13 May 2015