title: The anti-biofilm activity of lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) and grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) essential oils against five strains of Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the sensitivity of five strains of Staphylococcus aureus to five essential oils (EOs) and to investigate the anti-biofilm activity of lemongrass and grapefruit EOs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Antimicrobial susceptibility screening was carried out using the disk diffusion method. All of the strains tested were susceptible to lemongrass, grapefruit, bergamot and lime EOs with zones of inhibition varying from 2·85 to 8·60 cm although they were resistant to lemon EO. Lemongrass EO inhibited biofilm formation at 0·125% (v/v) as measured by colorimetric assay and at 0·25% (v/v) no metabolic activity was observed as determined by 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction. Grapefruit EO did not show any anti-biofilm activity. Following exposure to lemongrass EO extensive disruption to Staph. aureus biofilms was shown under scanning electron microscopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In comparison to the other EOs tested, lemongrass exhibited the most effective antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effect of lemongrass EO highlights its potential against antibiotic resistant Staph. aureus in the healthcare environment.
authors.affiliation: School of Health, The University of Northampton, Northampton, UK.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Adukwu
authors.forename: S C H
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D032083:Citrus paradisi / Q000737:chemistry*; D031743:Cymbopogon / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; C068336:bergamot oil