Abstract

Essential oils have always been a field of interest attributed to their strong antibacterial
properties. Present study was intended to determine the in-vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant
activities of Cymbopogoncitratusstems. Studyinvolved successive extraction
ofCymbopogoncitratusstems by Soxhlet extraction using different solvents such as
dichloromethane, acetone, ethanol and methanol in increasing order of polarity to yield
different solvents extracts. The extracts were investigated for their antimicrobial
potential.Among all extracts, dichloromethane extract exhibited highest antimicrobial activity
followed by ethanolic extract, acetone extract and lastly methanolic extract. Present study
concludes that dichloromethane extracts of Cymbopogoncitratus stem possess highest
inhibitory action over the growth of bacterial strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus
pyogenes, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacterbaumanni and Neisseria
gonorrhoeae. The high antimicrobial potential of dichloromethane extract of
Cymbopogoncitratus stem may be due to presence flavonoidal constituents.

Key words: Antimicrobials, Cymbopogoncitratus, bacteria, stem, extract