Antibacterial activity of emulgel essential oil from scented lemongrass (Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle) against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC-29213

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle) is one of plants with many benefits, which the main compound is able to inhibit bacterial activity. Utilizing citronella essential oil in an emulgel dose form can help treat Staphylococcus aureus. This study aims to determine the antibacterial effect of essential oil concentrations of citronella emulgel preparations at concentrations of 10%, 20%, 30%, and negative control against S. aureus. The used method was agar diffusion by means of wells. Data were analyzed by One-Way ANOVA test and Post Hoc test in SPSS ver. 26. Lemongrass essential oil emulgel was proven to be able to inhibit the growth of S. aureus as evidenced by the inhibition zone formed. The diameter of the inhibition zones for the 10%, 20%, 30% concentrations were 5.367 mm, 7.867 mm, and 11.833 mm, respectively. While the emulgel base as a control was 0 mm. The results of the ANOVA test showed a significant value of 0.000<0.05, so there was a significant difference between the inhibition zone and the 95% confidence level. Based on the Post Hoc test, the inhibition of the three groups of emulgel formulations of citronella essential oil was significantly different from the control group. The three emulgel concentration groups proved to be significantly different, in which citronella essential oil emulgel with a concentration of 30% had the best antibacterial activity. This finding revealed the optimum concentration for the emulsion of lemongrass essential oil to promote antibacterial activity.