Isolation and Analysis of Lemongrass Essential Oil
Board Location: #160
Discipline: Chemical Sciences
Subcategory: organic
Session: 2
Leah Rochelle Butler - Norfolk State University
This study investigates the antimicrobial properties of lemongrass’ (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oils, focusing on its significant bioactive compounds, such as citral, geraniol, and neral, and how they exhibit potent antiviral and antibacterial properties that can serve as a natural remedy for infectious diseases. Multiple extraction techniques were used to isolate the essential oil, including vacuum filtration, liquid-liquid extraction, and solvent evaporation. These methods helped ensure the oils high yield of 1.24 % (39g) and purity while preserving the bioactive compounds’ volatile nature. Following extraction,the essential oil was thoroughly analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). GC-MS confirmed that citral and geraniol were the predominant components in the oil. These compounds are known for their strong antimicrobial and antiviral properties.
Lemongrass essential oil was tested for its antiviral properties and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Mycobacterium smegmatis. These microorganisms were selected for their clinical relevance, particularly concerning antibiotic-resistant strains. Challenges such as solvent compatibility and preserving the bioactive components after extraction were noted and three solvents were evaluated, acetonitrile, ethanol, and ethyl acetate. The antibacterial activity was evaluated using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, which revealed significant antibacterial effects,especially against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Although the oil’s activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis was weaker, some antimicrobial efficacy was observed. This comprehensive analysis highlights the significant potential of lemongrass essential oil as a natural remedy in modern medicine,contributing to the growing interest in using natural products to develop new antimicrobial agents.
Recommendations for future research include refining extraction methods to maximize the oil’s efficacy and exploring greener, more sustainable techniques for isolating the bioactive compounds.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): LSAMP
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Arasho, Dr. David, wdarasho@nsu.edutsdavidnsu.edu
Role: I did the entire research experiment myself with the assistance of my mentor.