Antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy of <i>Cymbopogon citratus</i> (DC.) Stapf essential oil and its bioactives against methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>

Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf exhibits potent antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a major global health concern. This study aimed to characterize the key components of C. citratus essential oil (CCEO) and evaluate its antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against MRSA. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified citral and geraniol as the dominant components. Among the tested agents, citral demonstrated the strongest antibacterial activity, with a mean inhibition zone diameter (IZD) of 28.9 mm and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.2 mg/mL ( p &lt;0.01). CCEO and geraniol also exhibited significant activity, with IZDs of 21.4 mm and 21.2 mm, and MICs of 2.9 mg/mL and 5.5 mg/mL, respectively ( p &gt;0.05). Time-kill assays showed that 2×MIC CCEO completely eradicated MRSA within 8 hours, confirming its bactericidal effect. Furthermore, CCEO and its bioactive components significantly inhibited and eradicated biofilm formation, with citral emerging as the most effective agent. These findings underscore the potential of CCEO, particularly citral, as a feasible alternative for combating MRSA infections and biofilm-associated resistance, offering valuable insights for the development of novel anti-MRSA therapies.