Abstract

Background: The high prevalence of microorganisms resistant to antimicrobials commonly used in clinical practice has impacted healthcare services due to reduced patient treatment options. Medicinal plants are thought to provide new sources of compounds that potentially replace antibiotics in the treatment of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Objective: This work aimed at determining the antibacterial activity of Citrus lemon juice against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Aims: This is a cross-sectional study in Shendi City, Sudan, from March to December 2023, at the microbiology laboratory, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Shendi University. A total of 50 samples were collected from different clinical specimens. Seven pathogenic gram-negative and two gram-positive bacteria strains were isolated and identified using gram stain and biochemical tests. We tested the Citrus Lemon extract at concentrations of (100%, 50%, 25, and 12.5% v/v) of lemon juice by the agar diffusion method with measurement of the diameter of the zone of inhibition around the extracts. Result: Out of a total of 50 clinical specimens, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Citrobacter, Salmonella Paratyphi B, Salmonella paratyphi A, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Klebsiella oxytoca were identified. These results showed the activity of antimicrobial Citrus Lemon pronounced dose dependent on standard strains and clinical isolates. The data from this work highlight the potential of these Essential Oils (Eos) against pathogens important to human health, suggest new studies against other emerging pathogens for public health, and better understand their applicability as a natural and safe alternative for controlling infections. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that citrus lemon juice might have antimicrobial activity against different Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens and could be used to prevent various diseases caused by these organisms of multiple diseases caused by these organisms.

Keywords

citrus lemon, gram positive, gram-negative, antimicrobial activity, herbal medicine