Chemical Properties and Antimicrobial Activity of Cymbopogon olivieri Ethanolic Extract on Pathogenic Microorganisms: A Laboratory Study

The plant compounds have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Therefore, they can be used as a good alternative to chemical drugs. Kah Makki (Cymbopogon olivieri (Boiss.) Bor) is used as a disinfectant and to treat stomach pain. In this study, the total phenolics and flavonoids content, antioxidant properties, and antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of Kah Makki plant on some microorganisms were investigated.

The ethanolic extract of the plant was prepared and its total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activity (DPPH- and ABTS-radical scavenging) were measured. Moreover, disk diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration methods were used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the ethanolic extract on Enterobacter aerogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Penicillium italicum.

In disk diffusion agar method, the smallest growth inhibition zone was observed for Enterobacter aerogenes and the highest one was observed for Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The lowest inhibition zone in well diffusion agar method was related to Enterobacter aerogenes and the highest value was related to Candida albicans. The lowest inhibitory and bactericidal/fungicidal concentration was observed for Candida albicans and the highest concentration was observed for Enterobacter aerogenes.

It was found that the ethanolic extract of Kah Makki has an appropriate antimicrobial effect against a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms (gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria, mold, and yeast), in conjugation with its considerable levels of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, and high antioxidant properties. Therefore, the plant can be used as a strong antimicrobial compound to inhibit a wide range of microorganisms and as an alternative to chemical drugs.