This research project was aimed at determining the antimicrobial efficacy of Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) on toenails dystrophy amongst females attending pedicure beauty salons in Makurdi metropolis. Dermatophytes fungi, Trichophyton spp. and Microsporium spp. were isolated as major cause of toenails dystrophy with a total prevalence of 13(33.33%) and 17(43.59%) respectively. Non dermatophyte fungi, Aspergillus spp. has a prevalence of 9(23.08%) which confirmed that the causes of most toenails’ dystrophy are dermatophyte fungi. Several bacterial species such as Bacillus spp., Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Klebsiella spp., Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli and Shigella spp. were isolated. The high total prevalence of Staphylococcus spp., 37(31.36%) confirms the implications of the bacterial ability to colonize the keratinous portions of the toenails. Phytochemical screening of the extracts confirms the presence of Flavonoids, Saponins, Alkaloids, Phenols, and Tannins in the methanol, aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts. Quinone was present in methanol and aqueous extracts but absent in the ethyl acetate extract. Susceptibility tests were done by agar well diffusion method to determine the mean zone of inhibition for all the extracts. The average mean zone of inhibition was 13.00±1.4 and 13.50±0.71 for Microsporium spp. and Aspergillus spp. respectively while Trichophyton spp. was resistant to all the extracts. Bacillus spp. was susceptible to ethyl acetate extract but resistant to methanol and aqueous extracts. Streptococcus spp. was susceptible to methanol and ethyl acetate extracts but resistant to aqueous extract. Staphylococcus spp. was susceptible to ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts but resistant to methanol extract. Klebsiella spp. was resistant to all the extracts. Salmonella spp. was susceptible to methanol and aqueuos extracts but resistant to ethyl acetate extract. Escherichia coli were susceptible to methanol and ethyl acetate extracts but resistant to aqueous extract. Shigella spp. was susceptible to all the extracts. This research study concluded that ethyl acetate extract proved to be most potent of all the extracts; it is recommended that the extracts of Cymbopogon citratus could be explored as an alternative to conventional antibiotics.

Keywords: Toenails dystrophy, Onychomycosis, Cymbopogon citratus, Dermatophytes, Antimicrobial resistance, Public health