Sylvester Chibueze Izah¹* and Ebinyo R Aseibai²

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa state, Nigeria
²Department of Science Foundation, School of Foundation Studies, Bayelsa state College of Health Technology, Otuogidi, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Sylvester Chibueze Izah, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa state, Nigeria.

Received: April 25, 2018; Published: May 21, 2018

Citation: Sylvester Chibueze Izah and Ebinyo R Aseibai. "Antibacterial and Synergistic Activities of Methanolic Leaves Extract of Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus) and Rhizomes of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis". Acta Scientific Microbiology 1.6 (2018).

Abstract

  Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) and Zingiber officinale (ginger) are common food spices that are used in preparing decoctions for certain disease condition by traditional medicine practitioners. This study assessed antibacterial and synergistic activities of methanolic leaves extract of lemon grass and rhizomes of ginger. The plant materials were dried and extracted using methanol for 48 hours. Agar well diffusion method was adopted for the sensitivity testing. Results showed that zone of inhibition for Bacillus subtilis, E. coli and S. aureus was 9.33 mm, 10.67 mm and 10.67 mm, respectively for ginger, 10.67 mm, 9.00 mm and 10.00 mm, respectively for lemon grass and 10.67 mm, 11.67 mm, 11.67 mm, respectively for synergy of lemon grass and ginger. At 95% concentration of the extracts, the mean zone of inhibition showed by Bacillus subtilis, E. coli and S. aureus was 7.33 mm, 8.67 mm and 8.67 mm, respectively for ginger, 8.67 mm, 7.33 mm and 8.67 mm, respectively for lemon grass, and 7.33 mm, 8.33 mm, 8.67 mm, respectively for synergy of lemon grass and ginger. There was significant difference (P < 0.05) among the various isolates, and plants and its combinations at 100%, 95% and 90% extract concentrations. The findings showed that the synergy had slight superior potency against the tested isolates.

Keywords: Antimicrobial; Disease Condition; Cymbopogon citratus; Medicinal Plants; Zingiber officinale

Copyright: © Sylvester Chibueze Izah and Ebinyo R Aseibai. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.