ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF EUCALYPTUS AND LEMONGRASS OIL ALONE AND IN COMBINATION AGAINST CLINICAL BACTERIA IN PLANKTONIC AND BIOFILM MODE

Abstract

The use of natural substances has been trending from past few years. In recent years, the synthetic products obtained from plants have gained immense importance. Essential oils and volatile products obtained from plants are the source of food flavoring, aroma products and fragrance industries. Their use is also common to cure different ailments such as cancer, skin problems and nosocomial infections. Vast research has shown the antimicrobial properties of essential oils obtained from plants.  Essential oils of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus, Stapf, Family: Family: Poaceae) and eucalyptus(Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Family: Myrtaceae) have antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant and insecticidal characteristics. Lemongrass and eucalyptus oils have provenantibacterial activity towards some Gram positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus,Bacillussubtilisand some Gram negative bacteria such as Escherishia coli andKlebsiellapneumonia.Combination of these oils havealso been suggested to possess high antimicrobial activity against different strains of bacteria. This review highlights the use of essential oils of lemongrass and eucalyptus for their in vitro antimicrobial properties against different bacteria in planktonic and biofilm mode. Mode of action by which the oil shows its inhibitory activity will be discussed. Susceptibility shown by different bacteria towards these essential oils and their components will be described.