{"references": ["P. Seenivasan., J. Manrckam I. Savarimuth. \"In-vitro antibacterial\nactivity of some essential oils from plants. BMC Alternative Medicine\"\n2006, 6(39): 37-42.", "K.A Hammer, C, F Carson, T.V Riley). \"Antimicrobial activity of\nessential oils and other plant extracts\". J. Appl. Microbiol. 1999- 86:\n985- 990.", "O.O. Ojo, I.I Anibijuwon and O.O. Ojo. \"Studies on Extracts of Three\nMedicinal Plants of South- Western Nigeria: Hoslundia opposita,\nLantana camara and Cymbopogon citratus; Adv. in Nat. Appl.Sci., 4(1):\n93-98, 2010.", "Sofowora, E.A. \"Medicinal plants and traditional medicine in Africa\"\nSpectrum books Ltd. John Wiley and sons. Nigera, 1992 pp: 134-156.", "F.A. Jones. \"Herbs - useful plants. Their role in history and Today\"\nEuro J Gastroenterol Hepatol 1996, 8:1227-123.", "J.E F Reynolds, \"Martindale - the Extra Pharmacopoeia\". 31st edition.\nLondon. Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain; 1996.", "M. Lis-Balchin, S.G Deans. \"Bioactivity of selected plant essential oils\nagainst Listeria monocytogenes\". J. Appl Bacteriol 1997, 82:759-762.", "L.A Mitscher, S. Drake S, S.R Gollapudi, S.K Okwute. \"A modern look\nat folkloric use of anti-infective agents\" J Nat Prod 1987, 50:1025-\n1040.", "L.L Zaika \"Spices and herbs: their antibacterial activity and its\nDetermination\". J Food Saf 1988, 23:97-118.\n[10] R.P Samy. \"Antimicrobial activity of some medicinal plants from\nIndia\". Fitoterapia, 2005 76: 697-699.\n[11] N. Matan, H. Rimkeeree, A.J. Mawson, P Chompreeda, V.\nHaruthaithanasan M. Parker. \"Antimicrobial activity of cinnamon and\nclove oils under modified atmosphere conditions\". Int J Food Microbiol\n2006, 107:180-185.\n[12] P.Aureli, A. Costantini, S. Zolea. \"Antibacterial activity of some plant\nessential oils against Listeria monocytogences\". J Food Prot 1992,\n55:344-348.\n[13] A.L. Adonizio, K. Downum, K, B.C. Bennett, K. Mathee. \"Anti-quorum\nsensing activity of medicinal plants in southern Florida\". J.\nEthnopharmacol. 2006 105: 427-435.\n[14] I. Ahmad, F Aqil. \"In vitro efficacy of bioactive extracts of 15 medicinal\nplants against ESL-producing multidrug-resistant enteric bacteria\".\nMicrobiol. Res., 2007 162: 264-275.\n[15] M.N Indu, A.A.M Hatha, C. Abirosh, U. Harsha, G. Vivekanandan.\n\"Antimicrobial activity of some of the south-Indian spices against\nserotypes of Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and\nAeromonas hydrophila\". Braz. J. Microbiol., 2006 37: 153-158.\n[16] J. Parekh, S.V. Chanda. \"In vitro antimicrobial activity and\nPhytochemical analysis of some Indian medicinal plants\". Turk. J. Biol.\n2007 31: 53-58.\n[17] S. A Mitchell1, M. H Ahmad1. \"A Review of Medicinal Plant Research\nat the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, 1948-2001\". West Indian\nMed J 2006; 55 (4): 243.\n[18] C.A Michie. \"The use of herbal remedies in Jamaica\". Ann Trop\nPaediatr 1992; 12: 31-6.\n[19] O.O Aboaba, B, M Efuwape, \"Antibacterial properties of some Nigerian\nspecies\". Bio. Res. Comm. 2001 13: 183-188.\n[20] O.O Aboaba, S.I. Smith, F.O Olide FO. \"Antimicrobial Effect of Edible\nPlant Extract on Escherichia coli 0157:H7\". Pak. J. Nutr. 2006 5(4):\n325-329.\n[21] W.M. Forbes, R.D Robinson, P. Reese, A. Mansingh. \"Eryngium\nfoetidum (spirit weed) - the source of new and effective treatments\nagainst human Strongyloides stercoralis infection\". Proc 3rd Conf.,\nFaculty of Natural Sciences, UWI, Mona, Jan 14-17, Kingston, Jamaica.\n1997; 20-21.\n[22] P.C Facey, K.O Pascoe, R.B Porter, A.D Jones AD. \"Investigation of\nplants used in Jamaican folk medicine for anti-bacterial activity\". J\nPharm Pharmacol 1999; 51: 1455-60.\n[23] B.E. Leonard, H.S Sherratt . \"Pharmacology of the alkaloidal fraction\nfrom the bark of the Jamaican shade tree Pithecolobium samath Benth\".\nNature 1961; 191: 287.\n[24] S.C..Chhabra,, F.C. Usio and E.N. Mshiu, \"Phytochemical Screening of\nTanzanian Medicinal plants\". Journal of Ethnopharmacol.1984, 11: 157-\n179."]}

Alcohol and water extracts of Cymbopogon citratus was investigated for anti-bacterial properties and phytochemical constituents. The extract was screened against four gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris) and two grampositive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus at four different concentrations (1:1, 1:5, 1:10 and 1:20) using disc diffusion method. The antibacterial examination was by disc diffusion techniques, while the photochemical constituents were investigated using standard chemical methods. Results showed that the extracts inhibited the growth of standard and local strains of the organisms used. The treatments were significantly different (P = 0.05). The minimum inhibitory concentration of the extracts against the tested microorganisms ranged between 150mg/ml and 50mg/ml. The alcohol extracts were found to be generally more effective than the water extract. The photochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids and phenol but absence of cardiac and cyanogenic glycosides. The presence of alkaloid and phenols were inferred as being responsible for the anti-bacterial properties of the extracts.