Hello. This is my first upload of my presentation regarding about herb plant - Cymbopogon citratus (commonly called it - Lemongrass). It is derived from several resources, mainly from monograph. This is part of my assignment and I would like to share it out. Feel free to comment for any related topic. Hope it helps to your finding. Thank you.

1. Cymbopogon citratus
[Lemongrass]
 COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
 Presented by: LAM HOI SUN

2. PLANT NAME
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 Scientific Names / Synonyms
 Andropogon nardus var. ceriferus
(Hack.)
 Andropogon citratus (D.C.)
 Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.) Stapf
 Vernacular Names
 Lemongrass
 Serai biasa (Malay)
 Xiang Mao (Chinese)
 Sera (Hindu)
FAMILY DETAILS
 It belongs to Poaceae or Gramineae family with genus name of
Cymbopogon.
 Poaceae is grass family, one of the largest flowering families, that lives in
warm topical area.
 It is native at Southeast Asia particularly at India and Malaysia.
Ref: Jayasinha P,Warnasuriya D, Dissanayake H. Medicinal and Aromatic PLant Series, No. 9 - LEMONGRASS
(Cymbopogon citratus). 363 Baudhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka: Industrial Technology Institute; 1999.

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PLANT DESCRIPTION
 They are tropical perennial
aromatic grass with stiff strap-
like leaves emerged from short
branched rhizomes
 They can grow in approximately
1m to 2m height with 0.5cm to
1cm wide.
 They rarely produce flowers,
typically form flowering panicles.
 They have nodding and pinkish
colour inflorescence with length
of 30cm to 60cm.
 The pedicel is oblong, linear,
tinged with reddish globous
grows in 6mm to 10 mm long.
Ref: Shah G, Shri R, PanchalV, Sharma N, Singh B, Mann AS. Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of
Cymbopogon citratus, stapf (Lemon grass). J Adv PharmTechnol Res. 2011;2(1):3–8.

4. MATERIAL OF INTEREST
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 Fresh or dried leaves
 General Appearance
 green, simple, parallel in venation
with gracefully drooping tips
arising from soil without stem.
 Their leaves blade is linear, smooth
& wide tapering towards the
sheath.
 Organoleptic Properties
 release strong citrus smell upon
crushing or cutting.
 Microscopic characteristics
 Large quantity of oils deposition
found at the lower epidermis cells,
specifically the forming papillae.
Ref: Shah G, Shri R, PanchalV, Sharma N, Singh B, Mann AS. Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of
Cymbopogon citratus, stapf (Lemon grass). J Adv PharmTechnol Res. 2011;2(1):3–8.

5. DOSAGE FORMS
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 Essential Oil
 Aqueous extract
 Alcoholic extract (> 50% ethanol)
PHYSIO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
 Physical properties
1. Essential Oil
2. Aqueous extract
3. Alcoholic extract (> 50% ethanol) continued ~

6. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES pt.1
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1. Essential Oil
 Oil Appearance: Clear and mobile liquid
 Oil yield: 0.25 – 0.6%
 Oil Colour: Pale yellow to orange yellow
 Odour: Strong citral aroma
 Specific Gravity: 0.872 – 0.897 at 20°C
 Optical Rotation: -3° to +1° at 20℃
 Refractive index: 1.483 to 1.489 at 20°C
 Citral content: at least 75%
 AcidValue: 5.34
 Ester value: 44.2
 Solubility: soluble in 70% (V/V) at alcohol
Ref:Ademuyiwa AJ, Olamide OY, Oluwatosin OO.The Effects of Cymbopogon Citratus (Lemon grass) on the
Sugar Level, Lipid Profiles and Hormonal Profiles of Wistar Albino Rats. J Med Med Sci. 2015 Jun;3(6):210–6.

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2. Alcoholic extract
 Colour: Dark green
 Taste: Bitter
 Odour: Lemon like
 Texture: Crystalline
3. Aqueous extract
 Colour: Dark brown
 Taste: Bitter
 Odour: Lemon like
 Texture: Crystalline
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES pt.2
Ekpenyong C, Daniel N,Akpan E. Phytoconstituents and diuretic activity of Cymbopogon citratus leaf
infusions in humans. Jounal Coast Life Med. 2014;2(9):704–13.

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2. Purity tests
 Ash contents
 Total ash values : Not more than 11%
 Acid insoluble ash : Not more than 6%
 Foreign Matter : Not more than 2%
 Loss on Drying : Not more than 10%
 ExtractiveValues
 Water soluble extracts: Not less than 12%
 Ethanol soluble extracts: Not less than 5%
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
3. Safety test
 Total bacterial counts: not more than 105 cfu/g
 Total yeasts and moulds count: not more than 104 cfu/g
Sousa SM, Silva PS,Viccini LF. Cytogenotoxicity of Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf (lemongrass)
aqueous extracts in vegetal test systems.Ann Braz Acad Sci. 2010;82(2):305–11.

9. MAJOR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
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Monoterpenes:
• Terpinolene
• Limonene
• Myrcene
Phenolic
compound:
• Terpinol
• Geraniol
• Borneol
• Nerol
Terpenoids:
• Grenial
• Neral
• Citranellal
(citral)

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 Uses supported by clinical data
 C.citratus essential oil is used in controlling dental plaque
level and preventing from gingivitis.
 Infused or decoction of C.citratus leaves is used as diuretic
agent.
 Uses supported by experimental data
 C.citratus essential oil is used as antidiabetic, anti-bacterial
, anti-fungal, anti-protozoal, analgesic, antihypertensive,
antioxidants, anti-cancerous, anti-inflammatory agent.
Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of C.citratus are used to
treat diarrhea, rheumatic pain, stomach ache, gastric
ulcers, dyslipidaemia and gout.
MEDICAL USES

11. MEDICAL USES
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 Uses described in pharmacopoeias and traditional
systems of Medicine
i. Japanese Pharmacopoeia: abortifacient, astringent & vermifuge
ii. Indian Medicine: flatulence, leprosy, common cold and fever
iii. African Pharmacopoeia: diaphoretic, emmenagogue and tonic
 Uses described in folk medicine, not supported by
experimental or clinical data
i. External: lumbago, neuralgic and rheumatic pain and sprains
ii. Internal: mild gastrointestinal symptoms and mild agitation

12. PHARMACOLOGY
Clinical Pharmacology
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1. Dental care
 0.25% C.citratus oil mouthwash has better efficacy in controlling
plaque level and reducing severity of gingivitis dental disease
compared to 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash.
 Trepene containing compounds in C.citratus reduce the adhesion of
oral pathogen which leading to plaque deposition.
 Besides, citral as the major constituent of C.citratus oil exhibits
antioxidant action that preventing periodontal tissue destruction
sequentially to gingivitis.
2. Diuretics activity
 C.citratus leaves infusion are orally administrated to 105 randomised
clinical trial subjects once daily for 30 days.The result shows it has
potent diuretic effect as loop diuretics and potassium-sparing
diuretics.They proposed the action of phytochemicals in C.citratus that
can induce natriuretic, saluretic and diuretic effect (19).
- Barbosa LC., Pereira UA, Martinazzo AP. Evaluation of the Chemical Composition of Brazilian
Commercial Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.) Stapf Samples. Molecules. 2008;13:1864–74.
- 1Hindumathy CK. Invitro Study of Antibacterial Activity of Cymbopogon Citratus. Int J Biol Agric Food
Biotechnol Eng. 2011;5(2):48–52.

13. PHARMACOLOGY
Experimental pharmacology
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1. Anti-diabetic activity (Ademuyiwa, 2012)
2. Analgesic activity (Vázquez-Briones, 2015)
3. Anti-protozoal/ anti-malarial activity (Akhila, 2010)
4. Anti-oxidant properties (Christopher, 2014)
5. Antibacterial and antifungal activity (Dany, 2015)
6. Anti-tyrosinase activity (Tarkang, 2014)
7. Anti-cancerous activity (Bossou, 2013)
8. Hypotensive effect (Vyshali, 2016)
9. Anti-inflammatory properties (Saeio, 2011)
10. Sedative and anxiolytic effect (Francisco, 2013)
11. Anti-nociceptive effect (Rodrigues, 2011)
12. Anti-gout activity (Santhosh, 2011)
13. Anti-diarrheal activity (Ghosh, 2013)
14. Hypolipidaemia action (Sreekeesoon, 2014)

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1. Anti-diabetic activity
 C.citratus essential oil has been proved with multiple antidiabetic actions in-vitro
in chemical-induced diabetic mellitus rats.The chemical interactions of
phytochemicals present in C.citratus oil exhibit lowering of blood glucose level by
reducing the peripheral insulin resistance, increasing in GLP-1 contents, activating
PPAR-α as well as inhibiting DPP-IV action. Moreover, a significant decrease in
blood glucose level is detected in mice that administrated with 200mg/kg of both
ethanolic and aqueous C.citratus extracts .
1. Analgesic activity
 It is demonstrated in-vitro using acetic acid induced writing test and tail
immersion tests to albino mice.They are treated with 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg of
ethanolic C.citratus extract.The pain reduction rate is highest in high
concentration of ethanolic extract (400mg/kg) compared to standard and
200mg/kg. Study proposed C.citratus as narcotic analgesics that indicate inhibition
of both central and peripheral pain mechanisms Besides, a significant pain
reduction by inhibiting peripheral mechanism is due to the interfering of
prostaglandin pathway and other mediators that responsible for peripheral pain.

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 Anti-protozoal
 C.citratus essential oil have larvacidal and insecticidal activities against
A.funestus and P.flaciparum.This may due to the inhibition of parasite
growth pathway - isoprenoid biosynthesis by similar intermediate found
in C.citratus essential oil that rich in monoterpenes. Besides, 100%
mortality rate of protozoa is achieved as 0.5% of C.citratus essential oil
against to A.gambiae . Moreover, combination of the biological activities
of several plant extracts including C.citratus exhibits synergetic effect in
inhibiting growth of Plasmodium spp.

 Anti-oxidant properties
 The C.citratus essential oil is evaluated for free radical scavenging
capacity in DPPH assay .The assay shows C.citratus essential oil has
similar antioxidant capacity as standard ascorbic acid samples.Thus, the
free radical scavenging activity is associated with presence of
monoterpene especially citral and phenolic compounds in lemongrass
oil

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 Antibacterial and antifungal activity
 C.citratus essential oil has bactericidal and fungicidal actions at higher
concentration (1mg/ml) and bacteriostatic effect at lower concentration
(<10µg/ml). Most of Gram negative bacteria and Gram positive bacteria
stains tested are sensitive to C.citratus oil. Besides, all fungal and yeasts
stains are sensitive to C.citratus oil . Moreover, ethanolic extract of
C.citratus leaves exhibit microbial growth inhibition but it is weaker
compared to compared to the stem with its moisture content. Hence,
studies proved that oxygenated monotrepenoid and phenolic compounds
in C.citratus has those antimicrobial action

 Anti-tyrosinase activity
 Anti-tyrosinase inhibitors are used for treatment of dermatological
disorders associated with excessive melanin production that might useful
in treatment of skin cancer. C.citratus essential oil is displayed potent
anti-tyrosinase activity compared to C.longa and A.galanga oils relative to
the abundance of citral component. Moreover, it is confirmed to be safe
for human use with nearly 100% of cell viability of human peripheral
blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

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 Anti-cancerous activity
 It is demonstrated in-vitro on the breast cancer cell line, MCF-7 and
animal cell line,Vero cells using chemically modified citronellal
compound C37A from C.citratus essential oil It shows cytotoxicity effect
in altering those cells variability and achieved 100% inhibition at
0.025%v/v concentration. However, it has low selectivity towards cancer
cells. Besides, same result is shown to cervical cancer cell lines, HeLa and
ME-180 with their action in decreasing cell proliferation, increased
intracellular ROS, altering the mitochondrial membrane potential and
induced cancer cells apoptosis .This could be responsible by terponoid
and citral compounds in C.citratus essential oil

 Cardioprotective effect
 C.citratus essential oil induces hypotension associated with bradycardia
and vasodilatation effect in vitro on MaleWistar mice.They possibly
decrease the peripheral vascular resistance and induce vasodilatation of
rat mesenteric artery through inhibition of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels.

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 Anti-inflammatory properties
 C.citratus water extracts stimulated inhibition of cytokine IL -1β and IL-6
production by macrophages. Inhibition of cytokine IL-6 release by citral
containing C.citratus has been proven. C.citratus essential oil inhibited the
NF-kB activation in human and murine macrophages, proteasome activation
and cytokine expression, particularly to chlorogenic acid. It also induced in-
vitro synthesis of endogenous prostaglandin that against ethanol induced
lesions in albino mice. It also provides gastroprotective effect for mice with
aspirin-induced and NSAIDs induced gastic ulcers at doses of 200mg/kg
and 400mg/kg.
 Sedative and anxiolytic effect
 C.citratus essential oil is potent sedative agent that reflects positive sleep
induction in light/dark box test (LDB). Besides, 10mg/kg C.citratus essential
oil administrated on rats significantly alter anxiety-related parameters with
its anxiolytic action. Moreover, study shows it has central depressant
activity without impaired locomotor system

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 Anti-nociceptive effect
 The antinociceptive effect of CCEO is studied by performing hot plate test,
acetic acid induced test and formalin test in phase I and II.The CCEDO is
administrated i.p or orally in animal based experiments in 5 – 100mg/kg
doses. Citral and citronellal containing compounds has role in modulating
neuropathic and inflammatory pain with no animal died in the experiment
 Anti-gout activity
 The C.citratus extract shows more than 50% inhibition rate of xanthine
oxidase. Therefore, the amount of uric acid produced by xanthine oxidase
is reduced that is beneficial to gout treatment
 Anti-diarrheal activity
 Methanolic extracts of C.citratus at dose of 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and
400mg/kg show significant reduction in fecal spots in rats.This indicates
anti-diarrheal property by C.citratus.

20. CONTRAINDICATIONS
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 Allergic reaction – skin irritation
 Pregnancy & Breast feeding
 Liver & Kidney impairment
 Children below 6 y/o
WARNINGS
Side effect: Skin rash
Avoid direct contact with eyes, inner ear canal, sensitive skin area
Keep EO away from fire
Prolong use of high dose EO
Nogueira AC, Carvalho RR, Souza CA, Chahoud I, Paumgartten FJ. Study on the embryofeto-toxicity of
citral in rat.Toxicology. 1995 Feb;96(2):105–13.
WITH CAUTIONS !!!

21. DRUGS - HERBAL INTERACTIONS
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 No sufficient evidence
 Study shows citral containing compunds may inhibit
CYP450 liver enzyme
 Study shows potent action when taking with anti-diabetic,
anti-hypertensive, anti-diarrheal and dyslipidaemia drugs.
NAHA. Safety | National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy [Internet]. Exploring Aromatherapy - Safety
Information. [cited 2017 Mar 11].Available from: https://naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/safety

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