Assessment of Antimicrobial and Anti-biofilm Activities of Lemongrass and Bay Leaf Extracts on Microorganisms from Fermented Cereal-Based Porridges in Northern Benin

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and bay leaf (Laurus nobilis) are condiments in food processing. This study aimed to assess the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities of lemongrass and bay leaf extract on the microorganisms isolated from cereal-based fermented porridges produced in northern Benin. The phytochemical components of lemongrass and bay leaf extracts were analyzed qualitatively using two solvents: water and alcohol. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was tested using the solid media diffusion method, and the minimum concentration was determined using the microdilution method. The extracts were also evaluated for their ability to inhibit biofilm formation using qualitative assays. The two plants have different phytochemical profiles. Tannins, flavonoids, mucilage, and alkaloids were detected in both plants. Cyanogenic derivatives, O-heterosides, and genin-reduced O-heterosides were absent. L. nobilis contained anthocyanins, quinone derivatives, saponosides, reducing compounds, and free anthracenes, absent in C. citratus. The inhibition diameters ranged from 4.4 to 26.3, depending on the strains and extracts, and varied significantly. The MICs for Escherichia coli ranged from 4.5mg/ml to 7mg/ml, staphylococci from 3.75mg/ml to 10mg/ml, and lactic bacteria from 2.5 mg/ml to 4.44mg/ml. The CMB varied between 8.125mg/ml and 14mg/ml for E. coli, 7.5mg/ml to 20mg/ml for staphylococci, and 6 mg/ml to 10 mg/ml for lactic bacteria. It is worth noting that staphylococci are the most biofilm-producing strains (80%), followed by E. coli (60%), and lactic bacteria produce less biofilm (30%). The findings of this research confirm the presence of a wide range of biological activities, including antibacterial and anti-biofilm, in the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of these two aromatic plants. Further research is required to identify and isolate the active components responsible for their medicinal properties and ascertain their operation mode.