ABSTRACT
Cymbopogon citratus, sometimes known as lemon grass, contains analgesic, antispasmodic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, sedative, and diuretic qualities, is frequently used to treat gastrointestinal diseases in conventional medicine. The aim of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of Cymbopogon citratus on multi-drug resistant isolates from spoilt Citrus sinensis (orange). The plant's leaves were bought from 19th street BDPA and processed into fine powder using an electric blender. The test isolates were obtained from spoilt orange sample bought at uselu market. The leaves aqueous and ethanolic extract was tested against the bacterial isolates; Proteus sp., Salmonella sp, Klebsiella pnuemoniae, Shigella sp., Enterobacter sp., and fungal isolates; Cryptococus neoformans, Lasidoplodia sp. and Diaporthe sp. The bacterial isolates were tested using agar well diffusion method while the fungal isolates were tested using food poison technique. The results from the bacterial isolates indicated that none of the isolates was sensitive to Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) at 200mg/ml but it was observed that the fungal isolates were. Diaporthe sp. was sensitive to Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) extract, both aqueous and ethanolic, at the least concentration of 250mg/ml. Fungus Diaporthe sp. exhibited a susceptibility of 47.50% (inhibition) at 250mg/ml and 13.33% at 1000mg/ml for the aqueous extract while it exhibited a susceptibility of 55.00% (inhibition) at 250mg/ml and 35.00% at 1000mg/ml, however, Fungus Lasidoplodia sp. was sensitive only at 250mg/ml exhibiting a susceptibility of 39.53% (inhibition). The result of the bacterial isolates sensitivity is suggestive that at a higher concentration using a different solvent, these bacterial isolates may have may have been more sensitive. Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) can be used as an alternative to antibiotics, due to its antifungal and antibacterial properties, however, the concentration and solvent used for its extraction is a key factor to its effectiveness. It is suggested that more research be carried out to confirm this hypothesis.
