Comparative Antimicrobial Activity of Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus) and Garlic (Allium sativum) Extracts on Salmonella typhi

In the genesis of using plants for treatment of diseases, Garlic and lemon grass were some of the earliest plants that have proven effective. In this study the antimicrobial effect of Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) and Allium sativum (garlic) extracts on clinical isolate of Salmonella typhi was examined. Water, ethanol and methanol were used as extraction solvent. Antimicrobial effects of conventional antibiotics was assayed using disc diffusion method while antimicrobial activity of lemon grass and garlic extracts were carried out using agar well diffusion method and the zones of inhibition was measured in millimeter (mm). Comparatively, the highest percentage yield of extract was observed in water extract of garlic (21.83%) and lemon grass (6.67%). Ciprofloxacin and Perfloxacin have the highest zones of inhibition of 19.73±0.24mm and 14.47±0.31mm respectively against the clinical isolates of Salmonella typhi . Two out of the twelve clinical isolate of Salmonella typhi used were multi drug resistant. Lemon grass extracts did not show any antimicrobial effects on the clinical isolates of Salmonella typhi while garlic extracts showed antimicrobial effect at the concentration of 800 mg/ml, water extract of garlic has the highest zone of inhibition (14.00 mm) against the tested isolates. Therefore garlic extract could be used for the formulation of drug and treatment of Salmonella typhi infection.