ABSTRACT
Preparation of the essential oil of lemon grass was done in collaboration with the Chemical and Minerals Department of DOST. Properly washed and air dried mature leaves of lemon grass were used. Essential oil was extracted by means of hydrodistillation wherein the cut leaves were placed in a 4 liter erlenmeyer flask filled with tap water which was sealed and connected to a Clevenger tube for collection. This was then dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate (Na2SO4). The percentage oil yield of the sample was computed in terms of volume per weight percent. Moisture of free oils were stored in amber colored bottles at 4 degrees centigrade A 1.17 percent has been extracted through this process. The oil obtained was subjected to bioassay gas chromatography. The gas chromatogram found that Citral was the major component with a concentration of 69.39 percent. The physical properties of lemon grass essential oil in Table 1 Antifungal sensitivities were determined with tube dilution methods. The MIC for Fusarium solani was determined at 625 ug/ml and the MFC was at 700 ug/ml. The MIC of Aspergillus was at 500 ug/ml and MFC was at 570 ug/ml.