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1.1 Introduction
tropical regions of Asian, American and Afican continents. Otherwise known as Squinant in
English, lemon grass is known by various other colloquial names throughout the world. Lemon
grass is a perennial monocotyledonous grass which can grow up to 6 feet in height and 4 feet in
width. It grows in clusters. It has long, slender, drooping bright green leaves that measures from
1.3-2.5 cm in width and 3 feet in length. Leaves are simple with entire margins. Flowers grow on
spikes. It has a lengthy inflorescence ranging from 30-60cm. The floral arrangement of this
scented grass gives it the name ‘Cymbopogon’. The members of Cymbopogon genus produce
volatile oils and thus are also known as aromatic grasses. A predominant feature of this grass
with strong lemon fragrance is due to high citral contents of its oil, it produces a diverse array of
bioactive compounds and exhibits a wide range of therapeutic activities. It has already found
applications in the cosmetic and perfumery industries due to its strong fragrance. It is also the
starting material for the manufacture of ionone’s, which produce Vitamin A. Lemon grass,
contains several bioactive compounds that impart medicinal value to it. Considerable evidence is
available for its medicinal properties that make it a potent herb for pharmacognostic applications.
This study tends to prove how does the components or properties of lemon grass provides things
that are used on making various drugs or medicines that helps to cure several diseases. The
therapeutic value of lemon grass and its essential oil may enable its use in herbal medicine in
future. This study would like to develop depth of understanding and which are distinct enough to
ensure that a certain kind of medicinal plant like lemon grass is used with the intention of
This study about Cymbopogon citratus as a potent herb for pharmacognostic applications
tends to reveal how does its component takes place on producing medicines for various diseases.
Due to this it deepens one’s understanding on the different ways in authentication of plants and
1. Main problem:
2. Sub problem:
This study focuses on the Cymbopogon citratus as a potent herb for pharmacognostic
applications. It also gives information to the readers for them to gain and have further knowledge
about medicinal plants like lemon grass. The study gives interest in some readers by giving them
enough uncommon facts when it comes to cymbopogon citratus. The result of this study will
contribute greatly to the benefit of the society. The result of this study would be a great help to
pharmacognostic applications. Thus, it will mainly focus on its components and uses specially its
pharmagostic applications. The purpose of this study is to determine how does the properties of
lemon grass contributes to the field of medicine. The population of the study will be the people
within all ages who wants to know about the lemon grass as a medicine. The study will be finish
on 2019.
This chapter will provide the different facts, effects, and information about
(Sighn, 2010), Cymbopogon citratus is native to Sri Lanka and South India, and is now
widely cultivated in the tropical areas of America and Asia. The plant is used as a fragrance and
antiemetic, antitussive, antirheumatic, antiseptic and treatment for nervous and gastrointestinal
disorders and fevers. The plant is also used as an antibacterial, antidiarrheal and antioxidant, but
the mode of action for the different bioactivities has not been studied in detail. Cymbopogon
terpenoids and essential oils, which may be responsible for the different biological activities.
Hence, we can isolate some pure phytopharmaceuticals, which in turn can be used as lead
molecules for synthesizing the novel agents having good therapeutic activity. With regard to the
the mechanism of action of the isolated compounds and clinical trials of the compounds are
much needed. In the changing global scenario, the interest toward plants with medicinal value is
increasing substantially in the primary healthcare system both in the developed and in the
developing countries. Therefore, the information will help scientists and researchers to screen the
compounds responsible for different bioactivities and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of
action.
The chemical composition of the essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus varies according to
the geographical origin, the compounds as hydrocarbon terpenes, alcohols, ketones, esters and
mainly aldehydes have constantly been registered. The essential oil (0.2–0.5%, West Indian
lemon grass oil) consists of, mainly, citral. Citral is a mixture of two stereoisomeric monterpene
aldehydes; the trans isomer geranial (40–62%) dominates over the cis isomer neral (25–38%),.
Lemongrass consists of luteolin and its 6-C and 7-O–glycosides, isoorientin 2’-O-
rhamnoside and isolation of the flavonoids quercetin, kaempferol and apiginin from the aerial
parts. The phenolic compounds elimicin, catecol, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and
Salvador(2008), Superficial mycoses of the skin are among the most common
dermatological infections, and causative organisms include dermatophytic, yeasts, and non-
dermatophytic filamentous fungi. The treatment is limited, for many reasons, and new drugs are
necessary. Numerous essential oils have been tested for both in vitro and in vivo antifungal
activity and some pose much potential as antifungal agents. By using disk diffusion assay, we
evaluated the antifungal activity of lemongrass oil and citral against yeasts of Candida species
(Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis). This study showed
that lemongrass oil and citral have a potent in vitro activity against Candida spp.
respect to the C2 = C3 double bond) could be react with DNA base producing a major adduct.
The mixture of epoxides was condensed with 2 mol of cytosine to give the adduct through
condensation between aldehyde and amino groups. Antifungal and antibacterial studies were
especially Penicillium italicum and Rhizopus stolonifer showed that citral and citral-epoxide
have good antibacterial action. Antimicrobial studies of P. italicum and R. stolonifer explained
also that citral and citral-epoxide have good antimicrobial activity. Citral epoxide shows high
activity against the growth of bacteria methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and
fungi comparing by citral. The epoxide shows antibacterial activity more than the antibiotics
nalidixic acid (NA) and ampicillin (AP) and nitrofurantoin (NI). The results revealed that these
Onawunmi & Ogunlana(2008), Lemon grass oil obtained by the steam distillation of the
fresh aerial parts of Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf was investigated for antibacterial activity.
The results obtained suggests that the oil possesses rapid bactericidal activity against Gram-
negative and Gram-positive bacteria, the latter being more susceptible. Other factors that could
affect the activity of the oil were also investigated. The dispersion of the oil in a dilution of
dimethyl sulphoxide which does not have an effect on the microorganisms studied provided a
convenient medium for the assay. It is being suggested that more information about the
Olorunnisola, Asiyanbi, Hammed, Simsek(2014), The use of herbal preparations remained the
main approach of folk medicine to the treatment of ailments and debilitating diseases. Initial
intensive researches conducted on Lemongrass extracts (tea) may have showed conflicting
evidences, however the resurgence in claims of folk medicine practitioners necessitated further
inquiry into the efficacy of the tea. Lemongrass tea contains several biocompounds in its
clearly elucidated to support initial pharmacological claims. Lemongrass tea was non-toxic, non-
mutagenic and receives wide acceptance among alternative medicine practitioners in several
developing countries. This review therefore presents previous research activities, technologies
Tajidin(2012), The demand for lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is for its high citral
content. Early or delayed harvesting of lemongrass affected essential oil and citral content. The
objective of the study was to determine the effects of three maturity stages at harvest of
lemongrass on essential oil, chemical composition and citral contents. The lemongrass plant was
planted using a randomized complete block design with four replications, at the University
Agriculture Park, Universiti Putra Malaysia. The plants were harvested at 5.5, 6.5, and 7.5
months after planting. After harvest, the essential oil, chemical composition and citral contents
were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. There were
significant effects of maturity stages on essential oil and citral contents. Lemongrass harvested at
5.5 and 6.5 months after planting had significantly higher oil contents than those harvested at 7.5
months. A total of 65 compounds were detected from all the three stages of maturity. However,
only 13 compounds were present at each of the maturity stage. Among 13 compounds, only 7
compounds (β-myrcene, 3-undecyne, neral, geranial, nerol, geranyl acetate and juniper camphor)
had a concentration of greater than 1%. The citral content at 6.5 months after planting was higher
by 11.4% than at 5.5 months after planting. The citral content decreased by 5.4% when
lemongrass was harvested at 6.5 compared to at 7.5 months after planting. Citral content peaked
at 6.7 ± 0.3 months after planting. Thus, maturity stage at harvest influenced essential oil and
citral contents of lemongrass. Therefore, lemongrass should be harvested at the appropriate level
of maturity in order to achieve high quality essential oil and lower production cost.
Anti-amebic Effect
The essential oil in broth culture was active on Entamoeba histolytica. According to the study
Plants rich in flavonoids has compounds that can be use against infectious diseases cause by
protozoan parasites.
Antibacterial Activity
The chromatographic fraction of the essential oil in agar plate was active on Bacillus subtilis,
Escherichia coli, Staphylococus aureus and Salmonella paratyphi and Shigella flexneri. These
activities are shown in two of the three main components of the oil identified through
chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods. While the α-citral (geranial) and β-citral
organisms, the third component, myrcene, did not show any observable antibacterial activity on
its own.The extract was also active when the volatile oil extract was oxidized via the active
oxygen method.
Antidiarrheal Activity
Cymbopogon citratus stalk decoction reduced the fecal output in a dose-dependent manner.
Antifilarial Activity
Antifungal Activity
Lemon grass oil is active against such dermatophytes such as Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T.
rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum and Microsporum gypseum, and is among the most active
agents against human dermatophytes. Other studies reported that lemon grass oil is active against
keratinophilic fungi, 32 ringworm fungi and food storage fungi.Lemongrass oil is also effective
Anti-inflammatory Activity
The hot water extract of the dried leaves administered intragastrically to rats was active when
Antimalarial Activity
The essential oils of Cymbopogon citratus were found to produce 86.6% suppression in the
chloroquine as 100%).
Antimutagenicity
The ethanolic extract of lemon grass extract exhibits an antimutagenic activity in various models
and retards the growth of fibrosarcoma cells transplanted in mice in association with the
prevention of lung metastasis. Theplant extract is known to show inhibition on the formation of
azoxymethane-induced DNA adducts and aberrant crypt foci in the rat colon. Inhibitory effects
of the plant extract on the early phase of hepatocarcinogenesis after initiation with
Antimycobacterial Activity
Antinociceptive Effect
Comparing the results obtained with three different experimental models of nociception (hot-
plate, acetic acid-induced writhings and formalin test), we can speculate that the essential oil acts
Antiprotozoan Activity
Ascaricidal Activity
Methanol, MeOH/water extracts, infusion and decoction of Cymbopogon citratus were shown to
have free radical scavenging effects by measuring the bleaching of the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-
hydrazyl (DPPH) radical, scavenging of the superoxide anion and inhibition of the enzyme
The elevated cholesterol concentration was significantly lowered in the animals given the plant
extract. This reduction was found to be dose dependent. This result shows that the extract
A fresh leaf aqueous extract of Cymbopogon citratus administered in normal rats lowered the
fasting plasma glucose and total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins and very
low-density lipoprotein dose dependently while raising the plasma high-density lipoprotein level
in the same dose-related fashion, but with no effect on the plasma triglyceride levels.
Larvicidal Activity
Neurobehavioral Effect
The essential oil was evaluated for sedative/hypnotic activity through pentobarbital sleeping
time, anxiolytic activity by elevated plus maze and light/dark box procedures and anticonvulsant
activity through seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole and maximal electroshock. The essential
oil was effective in increasing the sleeping time, the percentage of entries and time spent in the
open arms of the elevated plus maze as well as the time spent in the light compartment of the
light/dark box. In addition, the essential oil delayed clonic seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole
and blocked the tonic extensions induced by maximal electroshock, indicating the elevation of
plethora of medical conditions. This is due to the broad spectrum of secondary metabolites that it
produces. It has been used to treat fever, cough, elephantiasis flu, leprosy, malaria and digestive
problems among many other illnesses. The use of lemon grass in Ayurveda is still relevant today
due to its therapeutic value. Conventional medicine has a lot of adverse effects.
Therefore plant-based medicine has become a popular alternative for synthetic medicine. Thus,
this herbaceous
plant may find many applications in the pharmaceutical industry. Indonesian Scientists have
investigated and confirmed the ability of β-citronellol-the major component of “Sereh Wangi”
(colloquial name for Lemon grass in Indonesia) oil, to bring about a reduction in weight of rats
fed with a high fat diet. Inhalation of vapors of β-citronellolenhances the sympathetic nerve
activity of the rats that leads to the increased activity in the adipose tissue resulting in weight
loss. The findings of this study were significant due to the fact that β-citronellol caused a
reduction in body mass without affecting the concentration and activity of the liver enzymes.25
Weight loss is only one of the few pros of citronella grass. Maintenance of oral health is an
important aspect of daily routine. Gingivitis and periodontitis are oral health conditions caused
due to dental plaque. Many reports confirm that these dental caries are risk factors for ischemic
stroke and cardiovascular disease. The antagonistic activity of lemon grass against the planktonic
and biofilm forms of Candida dubliniensis, a common oral pathogen has been reported.
Citronella grass may be used in formulating herbal drugs for oral healthcare. Medical conditions
obesity and diabetes mellitus. It has been reported that lemon grass is bestowed with
which are highly correlated with heart disease. Hypoglycemic condition in rats was achieved
after 42 days of administration of 500mg/kg/day lemon grass extract. The mechanism of action is
howevernot clear. In addition to these benefits, several reports have confirmed the anti-
inflammatory, anticonvulsant and anxiolytic effects of lemon grass extracts. Additionally, the
antagonistic activity of lemon grasstowards different pathogenic bacteria, protozoa and fungihas
also been reported. Leishmaniasis is severe disease that affects the global human population
annually on a large scale. It has been reported that the promastigotes of Leishmania infantum
undergo programmed cell death upon exposure to citral, a major constituent of lemon grass oil.
Also, reports suggest the anti-proliferative effect of citronella oil on the anexic amastigotes of
Leishmaniasp. Lemon grass, may be foreseen as an anti-protozoan drug of the future. Theability
of Cymbopogon species to inhibit the growth and aflatoxin production in Aspergillus sp. and in
Penicillium citrinum, thereby reducing the deterioration of melon seeds, has been reported. It is
also seen that the combination of silver nanoparticles and the oil have synergistic inhibitory
Candida, Citronella oil, also exhibits potent antifungal activity against Candida sp. and
Aspergillus niger by showing inhibitory zones in the range of 35 to 90mm. Also, the oil shows
similar effects to 50 mg/kg synthetic oral drug diclofenac when administered in mice suffering
from carragennan induced edema. In vivo anti-inflammatory action of the oil is also evident
when it is topically applied on croton oil induced edematous mice. Lemon grass can be used in
preparations of topical skin creams and in the manufacture of plant based oral drugs. Research on
anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activities of lemon grass, after its GC-MS analysis, has
revealed its major constituents as limonene, nerol,gerianal, geraniol and myrcene. Hence it is
inferred that these compounds may be responsible for its microbicidal and anti-inflammatory
effects. There is a lot of data that attests the anti-inflammatory effects of monoterpene aldehydes.
Bioactive compounds such as citral, neral and geranial have been found to inhibit the production
thereby reducing inflammation. Furthermore, the bioactive compounds of lemon grasshave also
shown potent antagonistic activity against viruses. Anti-viral effects of lemon grass against
onenveloped murine virus and have been reported. Murine novovirus is a surrogate virus of
human novovirus, which is responsible for non-bacterial gastroenteritis epidemic worldwide. The
lemon grass oil and citral used in the study reduced viral infectivity by coating the viral capsid
and thus preventing it from binding to the host cell. Lemon grass and citral can be used to
sanitize food and surfaces to prevent viral infections. The bioactive compounds in citronella
grass have been investigated for their anti-cancerous properties also. An emulsion of citral and
lemongrass oil exhibited its anticancerous properties on cervical cell lines (HeLa and ME-180)
by reducing cell proliferation and by initiating apoptosis. Also, a change in the mitochondrial
membranepotential and increase in ROS production was observed the cancerous cells upon
exposure to the emulsion. It has also been reported that two lipopolysaccharides containing
(1→4) linked b-d-Xylofuranose moiety, extracted from lemon grass, brought about apoptosis
inSiha and LNCap reproductive cancer cell lines via theintrinsic pathway. Hence it is envisaged
that the constituents of lemon grass may be used to form potentanti-cancer drugs in future.
CHAPTER 3
RESEARCH METHODS
The contents of this chapter shows the components of the plant, materials used for
experimentation and methods that has been conducted to finish this study.
1. Carbohydrate 55%
Mineral Quantity(mg/100g)
1. Sodium 54.8
2. Potassium 59.5
3. Calcium 39.5
4. Magnesium 70
5. Iron 0.024
6. Manganese 0.952
7. Zinc 121
8. Phosphorus 89.3
9. Phytate 11860
Essential oils are extracted from flowers, herbs, trees and various other plant materials. These
oils contain a mixture of chemical compounds. Terpenes associated with aldehydes, alcohols and
ketones form the major chemical component of such essential oils. Also finds an application in
the pharmaceutical industry. The extraction of this essential oil is classified as clean technology.
Lemon grass contains 1-2% of essential oil on a dry weight basis. Lemon grass oil is also known
as citronella oil. Steam and hydro distillation are the conventional methods of its extraction.
Hydrodistillation (MAHD) not only reduces the extraction time but also retains the quality of oil.
The benefits of microwave radiation aided oil extraction technique over hydrodistillation have
also been reported. Pressurized liquid extraction using nitrogen gas, is a novel technique and was
found to yield better quality of oil in comparison to Soxhlet extraction and hydrodistillation
methods. Supercritical extraction of citronella oil with CO2 under high pressure has also been
investigated.
A. Plant Sample
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus) leaves were collected. The plant sample was freshly cut,
10cm from the root, in the morning of the day they were collected. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon
Citratus), the percentage essential oil yield for the partially dried leaves was found to be higher
than that of the fresh leaves. Thus, once collected, the plant material was dried at room
temperature for maximum 4 days, then kept in a sealed plastic bag at ambient temperature and
protected from the light. Extraction yield increase by decreasing the particle size due to the
higher amount of oil released as the leave cells are destroyed by milling. In order to improve the
collection efficiency, the plant material was soaked in its distilled water for 30min before the
extraction performed.
B. Reagents
N-hexane was used as analytical grade reagent purchased from Research Lab.
placed in a 1 lit clean flat bottom flask. 500ml of N- hexane solvent were poured into the flask.
The flask and content were allowed to stand for 36 hrs; this was done to extract all the oil content
in the lemongrass and for complete extraction. After which the extract was decanted into another
1 lit beaker. 200ml of Ethanol were added to extract the essential oil since essential oil is soluble
in Ethanol. The mixture was then transferred to 500ml separating funnel and separated by a
process called liquid/liquid separation process. The content of the separating funnel was and
allowed to come to equilibrium, which separated into two layers (depending on their different
density). The lower Ethanol extract and the upper Hexane layer were collected into two separate
250ml beaker and were placed in a water bath at 78oC. This was done to remove the Ethanol
leaving only the natural essential oil. The yield of oil was determined by weighing the extract on
an electronic weighing balance. The difference between the final weight of the beaker with
extract and the initial weight of the empty beaker gave the weight of essential oil.
distilled water. The flask was fitted with a rubber stopper connected to condenser and heated.
Water at 0oC flowed counter currently through the condenser to condense the ensuring steam.
When the water reached 100oC it started boiling ripping off the essential oil from the
lemongrass. When the lemongrass got heated up, the essential oil that was extracted from the leaf
mixed with the water vapor. Both passed through the condenser and the vapor was condensed
into liquid. With the use of ice block, cooling was made possible and volatilization of the
essential oil was avoided. The condensate was directly collected using a 500ml beaker and then
poured into a separating funnel. This formed two layers of oil and water. The tap of the
separating funnel was opened to let out the water while the oil was immediately collected into a
100ml stoppered bottle. The bottle was closed tightly to prevent vaporization of the essential oil.
The oil was collected and the volume of oil obtained was weighed.
E. Formulation of Perfume
10ml of lemongrass essential oil extract were measured and placed in a 120ml beaker containing
5ml of Methanol. 5ml of the Fixatives were added to the mixture (to improve the longevity of the
perfume). The solution was shaken and poured into a 50ml bottle.