ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES AND PROXIMATE ANALYSIS OF CYMBOPOGON CITRITUS (LEMON GRASS) AGAINST PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA AND KLEBSELLA PNEUMONEAE.

ABSTRACT The work is to evaluate the nutritional content and antibacterial activities of lemon grass against pseudomonas aeruginosa and klebsella pneumoneae. and also to evaluate the nutritional content of lemon grass, investigate the bioactive content presence in the extract, and know the efficacy of lemon grass against pseudomonas aeruginosa and klebsella pneumoneae. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens has necessitated the search for alternative antimicrobial agents, particularly from plant-based sources. This study investigates the antibacterial efficacy and nutritional composition of cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) extract against two clinically significant gram-negative bacteria: pseudomonas aeruginosa and klebsiella pneumoniae. phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of several bioactive constituents including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenols, and steroids—all known for their antimicrobial and therapeutic potential. the antibacterial activity was assessed using the agar well diffusion method across five concentrations (10 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, 2.5 mg/ml, 1.25 mg/ml, and 1.0 mg/ml). the results demonstrated a concentration-dependent inhibition of bacterial growth, with klebsiella pneumoniae exhibiting greater sensitivity at all concentrations—recording the highest zone of inhibition (17 mm) at 10 mg/ml—compared to pseudomonas aeruginosa (12 mm at 10 mg/ml). these findings suggest that lemon grass possesses effective bacteriostatic or bactericidal properties against both test organisms, with stronger potency against k. pneumoniae. in addition, proximate analysis of the lemon grass extract indicated a high carbohydrate content (66.90%), significant fiber content (12.50%), and moderate levels of crude protein (5.10%) and crude fat (2.80%), with a relatively low moisture content (8.50%) and ash content (4.20%). this nutritional profile supports the use of lemon grass not only as a medicinal plant but also as a functional food ingredient with added health benefits. overall, the study highlights the potential of cymbopogon citratus as a natural, affordable, and effective antimicrobial agent that could serve as a complementary therapy in the management of bacterial infections. further research is recommended to isolate the specific active compounds and evaluate their pharmacological properties through in vivo and clinical studies.