Chemical Compositions, Phytochemical Constituents and in vitro Biological Activity of Various Extracts of Cymbopogon citratus

M.F. Asaolu, O.A. Oyeyemi and J.O. Olanlokun

Cymbopogon citratus was analyzed for its chemical constituents. Proximate analysis revealed that the sample contained moisture content: 5.76%; crude protein 4.56%, ash content: 20.00%, crude fat 5.10%, Carbohydrate 55.00% and crude fibre: 9:28. The food energy of the sample was 360.55 cal/100g. The phytochemical analysis of the ethanolic extracts of cymbopogon citratus indicates that it has alkaloids, saponins tannins, anthraquinones, steroids, phenols and flavonoids. Test for antibacterial activity using agar diffusion technique shows that antibacterial activity was active on S. typhi with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 50 mg/ml but inactive on E. coli, L. monocytogenes and S. aureus.