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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a major global health concern and a menace to the efficacy of existing antimicrobials, necessitating the exploration of alternative agents. Medicinal plants have the potential to provide novel therapeutic options against microbial infections. Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) and Picralima nitida (Akuamma) are widely recognized for their antimicrobial effects, among other pharmacological activities. This study aimed at evaluating the antimicrobial activity of a bi-herbal formulation of Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) and Picralima nitida (Akuamma) against selected pathogenic microorganisms. Aqueous and ethanol leave extracts of Cymbopogon citratus and Picralima nitida were used. An inoculum size of 105 CFU/ml was applied. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out using agar well diffusion method with some modifications. The results showed that the MICs of the aqueous and the ethanol leave extracts on Staphylococcus aureus were 200 mg/ml and 20.83 mg/ml with zones of inhibition of diameters 11.50 mm and 11.33 mm, respectively. Also, the MICs of the aqueous and the ethanol leave extracts on Bacillus subtilis were 150 mg/ml and 6.37 mg/ml with zones of inhibition of diameters 15.00 mm and 15.50 mm, respectively. The MIC of the aqueous extract on C. albicans was 75 mg/ml with a zone of inhibition diameter of 12.00 mm; however, the ethanolic extract did not produce any zone of inhibition. No zones of inhibition were observed in K. pneumonia and Aspergillus niger. In conclusion, both the aqueous and ethanol bi-herbal formulations of Cymbopogon citratus and Picralima nitida leaves possess antimicrobial property against Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, although these organisms were more susceptible to the ethanol extract. The formulation is not effective against Gram-negative organisms such as Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia coli, as well as fungi such as Aspergillus niger but had slight activity against Candida albicans. Further research is recommended to elucidate the efficacy, safety, and toxicity of this formulation.
