Antibacterial constituents in the essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf.

Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf., commonly known as lemon grass and used, over many years, for medicinal purposes in West Africa, produces a volatile oil on steam extraction of its leaves. The antibacterial properties of the essential oil have been studied. These activities are shown in two of the three main components of the oil identified through Chromatographie and mass spectrometric methods. While the α-citral (geranial) and β-citral (neral)...