Chemical Profile and Antibacterial Activity of Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Essential Oil

ABSTRACT Antimicrobial resistance is a major global public health concern, driven by the increasing prevalence of multidrug‐resistant pathogens. In this context, plant‐derived compounds have emerged as potential sources of new antimicrobial agents. Cymbopogon citratus, widely used in traditional medicine, has been reported to exhibit antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from C. citratus leaves and to evaluate its antibacterial activity. The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Antibacterial activity was assessed using disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The essential oil yield was 0.18%, with geranial (49.47%), neral (36.35%), and β‐myrcene (7.28%) identified as the major constituents. No inhibition zones were observed in the disk diffusion assay. However, the microdilution method revealed bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli (MIC and MBC: 5 mg/mL) and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC and MBC: 0.156 mg/mL), as well as a bacteriostatic effect against the other tested strains at higher concentrations. Overall, the essential oil demonstrated selective antibacterial activity, likely associated with its chemical composition, suggesting its potential as a source of bioactive compounds for antimicrobial applications.