Lemongrass Essential Oil Benefits

How health benefits of lemongrass were found?

Lemongrass is a perennial plant that grows uniquely, numerous stiff stems arise from a short rhizome. Dried, powdered or fresh Lemongrass is used in as flavoring agent. The attractive citrus flavor of this plant enhances the taste and flavor in teas, soups, and curries. Lemongrass is the most essential ingredient in seafood preparations. [1]

Algeria cultivates lemongrass for medicinal and aromatic use purposes. The essential oil present in Lemongrass is very widely accepted all over the globe. Asia, South America, and Africa are some other countries where lemongrass is widely cultivated. The commercial application of lemongrass essential oil is significant in flavors, fragrances, perfumery, detergents, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. [2]

• The essential oil present in lemongrass has analgesic, antimicrobial, and mosquito repellent properties. If we consider the country-specific ethnopharmacological application of lemongrass, then lemongrass has many therapeutic applications.
• A decoction of lemongrass leaf is used as a medicinal tea in Argentina for sore throat treatment and to control nausea and vomiting.
• Brazilians used lemongrass tea for analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, sedative, and diuretic preparation.
• Lemongrass tea is used to treat catarrh, rheumatism, and hypertensive condition in Cuba.
• Egyptians also considered lemongrass as an effective diuretic in case of a renal problem and also acts as an anti-spasmodic.
• Indians used this herb in different purposes. Lemongrass tea is used as a sedative and calming effect of the central nervous system. Few drops of Lemongrass oil with lemon is a natural remedy for cholera. Few drops of Lemongrass oil added in hot water provide relief from gastric trouble. Lemongrass oil added in a hot bath can treat a severe headache. The whole plant is used for snake repellant.
• In Indonesia and Malaysia, a hot extract of the whole lemongrass is used to increase menstrual flow.
• In Thailand, diabetic patient intake hot extract prepared from the root of the lemongrass to control their blood glucose level, the entire lemongrass plant hot extract used as a stomachic.
• Americans also used lemongrass as an ethnopharmacological agent. They externally applied the hot extract of the entire plant to heal skin wound and bone fractures. [1]

What are the phytochemicals present in Lemongrass?

The phytochemical constituents of Lemongrass vary depending upon the geographical origin. Hydrocarbon terpenes, aldehydes, ketones, esters, and alcohols are mainly present in lemongrass. Citral alpha and citral beta are the main components of lemongrass essential oil. Other phytochemical compositions of lemongrass essential oil include nerol, geraniol, citronellal, terpinolene, terpinol, borneol, myrcene, methylheptenone, linalool, limonene, geranyl acetate, etc.

Different flavonoids such as apigenin, quercetin, kaempferol, and phenolic compounds like catechol, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, elemicin, and hydroquinone are present in lemongrass. [1]

What is the Mode of action of Lemongrass oil benefits?

α-citral (geranial) and β-citral composition of lemongrass oil have a broad antibacterial effect on both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Lemongrass oil has potent antioxidant property. It scavenges free radicals like superoxide anion and also inhibits xanthine oxidase enzyme action, restricts lipid peroxidation level in blood tissue, and inhibits decolorization of 2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). [1] Tannin and flavonoid composition of lemongrass oil also have strong anti-oxidant property. [3]Lemongrass can counter regulate cortisol, catecholamine, and glucagon functionality to reduce blood glucose levels. Lemongrass oil can enhance insulin synthesis and increase the utilization of peripheral glucose. Flavonoids and alkaloids content of Lemongrass has anti-hypertensive property. Lemongrass has central-type benzodiazepine receptors known as endozepine octadecaneuropeptide (ODN), which inhibit food craving to prevent obesity. [3] Lemongrass extract follows a GABA-ergic system signaling behavior and provide an anxiolytic effect.

Essential oils present in the extract has antinociceptive property as it activates the opioid receptor.

Different Forms of Lemongrass

Different herbal medicine manufacturing companies manufacture lemongrass oil, which is available in the herbal medicinal shops. Lemongrass formulations have multiple indications, including

Lemongrass vaporizer is used to treat colds, flu, and bacterial attack.

Lemongrass oil aromatherapy:  Freshening, uplifting mood, alleviate headache, muscle cramps, menstrual problem. [1]

2% lemongrass essential oil gel: This can be used as an adjunct to mechanical nonsurgical periodontal therapy. [4]

Lemongrass oil-loaded nanocapsules: can prevent inflammatory disease conditions, infection, protect from cancer due to its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antiproliferative actions. [5]

LEMONGRASS OIL BENEFITS

Infection control

Lemongrass has antimicrobial property. It inhibits the growth of certain bacteria, such as B. subtilis, E. coli, S. aureus and S. paratyphi and S. flexneri due to their antibacterial property. Not only bacteria, but Lemongrass oil is active against fungal infections also. Skin infections due to fungal attack like keratinophilic fungi, ringworm fungi can be treated with lemongrass oil. Other fungal infections caused by E. floccosum, M. gypseum, T. mentagrophytes, and T. rubrum lead to dermatophytes. Lemongrass oil is effective to treat dermatophytes by inhibiting fungal infections. [1]

ANTI-MALARIA & ANTIFILARIAL ACTIVITY

Plasmodium berghei is one of the causative organism of malaria. Lemongrass oil is effective to inhibit 86% of the growth of this organism. Fresh leaves of Lemongrass active against filaria growth. [1]

ANTI-AMEBIC & ANTIDIARRHEAL ACTIVITY

The broad anti-microbial property of lemongrass oil is effective against Entamoeba histolytica and control amebic dysentery symptoms. The stalk of lemongrass extract can control loose motion occurs due to diarrhea. [1]

Diabetes and cholesterol-lowering effect

Lemongrass is good herbal medicine for diabetic patient as it helps to reduce fasting blood glucose level. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder and often associated with the hyperlipidemic condition. Fresh lemongrass extract can reduce cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and VLDL level in blood. This helps to reduce the associated complications. [1]

Sleep inducing agent

Lemongrass oil has a sedative effect.  This oil is to increase sleeping time and effective toprovide a relaxing effect and reduce the anxiety level. [1]

Anti-convulsion

Lemongrass oil improves neurobehavioral activity and elevates seizure threshold. This herbal ingredient restricts the spreading of seizure. The lemongrass oil is an effective treatment for controlling clonic and tonic seizure by delaying the clonic attack and blocking the tonic extension.

Insecticide

The essential oil collected from the fresh leaf can kill the insect at their early stage of life due to its larvicidal activity. [1]

Liver cancer protection

Antimutagenic activity of Lemongrass oil has an inhibitory effect on hepatocarcinogenesis.

LEMONGRASS SIDE EFFECTS

Lemongrass within the recommended dose is relatively safe in both oral and topical application. Inhalation for short term aromatherapy does not cause any significant side effect. But in rare cases, external application of Lemongrass oil can cause skin irritation. Breathing difficulty, lung toxicity are common conditions in case of children swallowed lemongrass oil containing insect repellant. [6]

References

1. Gagan Shah, Richa Shri, Vivek Panchal, Narender Sharma, Bharpur Singh, A. S. Mann. Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Cymbopogon citratus, stapf (Lemon grass). J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2011 Jan-Mar; 2(1): 3–8. doi: 10.4103/2231-4040.79796. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217679/
2. Mohamed Nadjib Boukhatem, Mohamed Amine Ferhat, Abdelkrim Kameli, Fairouz Saidi, Hadjer Tchoketch Kebir. Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil as a potent anti-inflammatory and antifungal drugs. Libyan J Med. 2014; 9: 10.3402/ljm.v9.25431. Published online 2014 Sep 19. doi: 10.3402/ljm.v9.25431. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4170112/
3. Olorunnisola, S. K., Asiyanbi, -H. T., 2Hammed, A. M., Simsek, S. Biological properties of lemongrass: An overview. International Food Research Journal 21(2): 455-462 (2014). http://www.ifrj.upm.edu.my/21%20(02)%202014/4%20IFRJ%2021%20(02)%202014%20043.pdf
4. Shivaraj B. Warad, Sahana S. Kolar, Veena Kalburgi, Nagaraj B. Kalburgi. Lemongrass essential oil gel as a local drug delivery agent for the treatment of periodontitis. Anc Sci Life. 2013 Apr-Jun; 32(4): 205–211. doi: 10.4103/0257-7941.131973. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4078470/