EC Microbiology

Objective: This study investigated the phytochemical and antimicrobial activity of Cymbopogon citratus (Mahareeb) plant leaves extract (MPLE) against two fungi (Aspergillus niger and Penicillium italicum) and two bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi).

Materials and Methods: To determine the phytochemical constituents in the plant extracts, we tested for phenols, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, sterols, cardiac glycosides, saponins, lipids, and fixed oils.

Results: The plant extracts were found to inhibit mycelial radial growth of both fungi. The effect was clear at the first days, although with further incubation Aspergillus niger was able to resist the lower concentrations and at the 8^th day. The effect was not significantly better than the control treatment. Mycelial fresh and dry weights of both fungi were also greatly reduced with the mahareeb extracts. The higher concentration gave the maximum effect which decreased with dilution. The effect on mycelial growth was more pronounced on A. niger than on P. italicum. The effect of mahareeb extract on the two bacteria (E. coli, S. typhi) was evaluated by the inhibition zone and dilution methods. A clear zone of inhibition was shown by the extracts against both bacteria, although the effect was less against E. coli.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that MPLE has potential as an antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant agent.

 Keywords: Mahareeb; Tannins; Saponins; Antifungal; Antibacterial Activity; Herbalism; Radial Growth

1. Shelef LA. “Antimicrobial effects of spices”. Journal of Food Safety (1983): 227-232.
2. Sulieman AE., et al. “Evaluation of the antimicrobial and synergistic effect of selected medicinal plants in Hail area with antibiotic drugs”. Bioscience Biotechnology Research Communications 10 (2017).
3. Nadeem A., et al. “Phytochemical profiling of antimicrobial and potential antioxidant plant: Nepeta cataria”. Frontiers in Plant Science (2022).
4. Marya CM. “Antibacterial Efficacy of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus). Extract against mutans”. Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research 12 (2022): 1-5.
5. Basera P., et al. “Analytical Investigation of Cymbopogon citratus and Exploiting the Potential of Developed Silver Nanoparticle Against the Dominating Species of Pathogenic Bacteria”. Frontiers in Microbiology 10 (2019): 282.
6. Aluyor Emmanuel and Oboh Innocent. Preservatives: Traditional Preservatives - Vegetable Oils (2014).
7. Raaman N. Phytochemical techniques (2006).
8. Basano and Adeyemo S. “Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial assessment of Abutilon mauritianum, Bacopa monnifera and Datura stramonium”. Biokemistri (2006): 18.
9. Chakraborty K and Paulraj R. “Sesquiterpenoids with free-radical-scavenging properties from marine macroalga Ulva fasciata Delile”. Food Chemistry 122 (2010): 31-41.
10. Barry M., et al. “Quantitative measurement of iron stores with diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid”. Gut 11 (1970): 891-898.
11. Cruickshank R. “Medical Microbiology: A Guide to Diagnosis and Control of Infection”. E and S Livingston Ltd., Edinburgh and London (1975): 888.
12. Zou Z., et al. “Antioxidant activity of Citrus fruits”. Food Chemistry1 (2016): 885-896.
13. Fawole OA., et al. “Anti-inflammatory and phytochemical properties of twelve medicinal plants used for treating gastro-intestinal ailments in South Africa”. Journal of Ethnopharmacology2 (2009): 237-243.
14. Lu Y., et al. “Antioxidant activity determination of citronellal and crude extracts of Cymbopogon citratus by 3 different methods”. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology4 (2014): 395-400.
15. Gnanamani K., et al. “Antibacterial activity of two plant extracts on eight burn pathogens”. Journal of Ethnopharmacology1 (2003): 59-61.
16. Carro RT., et al. “Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Frankenia triandra (J. Rémy) extracts”. South African Journal of Botany 104 (2016): 208-214.
17. López-Cobo A., et al. “Determination of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of a Mediterranean plant: the case of Satureja montana subsp. kitaibelii”. Journal of Functional Foods 18 (2015): 167-1178.
18. Bullerman LB. “Inhibition of aflatoxin production by Cinnamoun”. Journal of Food Science 39 (1974): 1163-1165.
19. Abdel-Rahim AM., et al. “Survey of some cereal grains and legume seeds for aflatoxin contamination in the Sudan”. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg A 89 (1989): 75-79.
20. Al-Jali ZI., et al. “Contamination of seeds of some crops with alfa-toxins in the Jabel Al-Akhdar region”. Proceeding of the 6^th. Arab Congress of Plant Protection, Beirut, Lebanon (1997): 294.
21. Zainal AS., et al. “Antimicrobial Substance(s) in the leaf litter of the xerophyte Prosopis juliflora”. Zentralblatt FÜr Mikrobiologie 143 (1988): 375-381.
22. Lai PK. “Antimicrobial and chemopreventive properties of herbs and spices”. Current Medicinal Chemistry (2004): 1451-1460.
23. Hassan ZY., et al. “Antimicrobial of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) volatile oil and cytotoxic effects against L20B and MCF-7cellline”. Biodiversitas 23.10 (2022): 5298-5301.
24. Valková V., et al. “Cymbopogon citratus Essential Oil: Its Application as an Antimicrobial Agent in Food Preservation”. Agronomy 12 (2022): 155.
25. Sulieman AME Abdallah., et al. “Spices as Sustainable Food Preservatives: A Comprehensive Review of Their Antimicrobial Potential”. Pharmaceuticals 16 (2023): 1451.
26. Vlietinek JA., et al. “Screening of hundred Rwandes medicinal plants for antimicrobial and antiviral properties”. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 46 (1995): 31-47.
27. Ahmed MM. “Molluscicidal and antimicrobial activity of certain Sudanese cucurbitacea plants”. (Cited from Ahmed S.A., 2007) (2002).
28. Ahmed MM. “Phytochemical, antimalarial, molluscicidal and antimicrobial activity of selected Sudanese Medicinal plants with Emphasis on: Nigella sativa seeds”. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Gezira (2004): 75-78.