BRIDGING THE GAP: CHALLENGES IN THE STANDARDIZATION AND CLINICAL TRANSLATION OF LEMONGRASS THERAPEUTICS
Main Article Content
Keywords
Cymbopogon citratus, Cymbopogon flexuosus, Citral, Essential oil, Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory
Abstract
Lemongrass has been used for generations across tropical regions as a household remedy. The two species most often discussed in the scientific literature, Cymbopogon citratus and C. flexuosus, yield an essential oil whose dominant constituent is citral. Traditional healers prepare leaf infusions or steam the plant for digestive complaints, mild fevers, muscle aches and restlessness. Laboratory work published up to 2017 confirmed several of these folk uses and added new observations on antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions. Yet the step from promising extracts to a reproducible, clinically tested medicine has proved difficult. The reasons are both technical and practical, and they are examined here.
References
2. Goes TC, Ursulino FR, Almeida-Souza TH, et al. Effect of lemongrass aroma on experimental anxiety in humans. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2015;21(12):766-773.
3. Carlini EA, Contar JDP, Silva-Filho AR, et al. Pharmacology of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus Stapf). I. Effects of teas prepared from the leaves on laboratory animals. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 1986;17(1):37-64.
4. Onawunmi GO, Yisak WA, Ogunlana EO. Antibacterial constituents in the essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 1984;12(3):279-286.
5. Viana GS, Vale TG, Pinho RS, Matos FJ. Antinociceptive effect of the essential oil from Cymbopogon citratus in mice. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2000;73(1-2):323-327.
6. Cheel J, Theoduloz C, Rodríguez J, Schmeda-Hirschmann G. Free radical scavengers and antioxidants from lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf.). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2005;53(7):2511-2517.
7. Blanco MM, Costa CA, Freire AO, Santos JG Jr, Costa M. Neurobehavioral effect of essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus in mice. Phytomedicine. 2009;16(2-3):265-270.
8. Santin JR, Lemos M, Klein-Júnior LC, et al. Gastroprotective activity of essential oil of the Cymbopogon citratus leaves. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2011;14(4):383-388.
9. Figueirinha A, Cruz MT, Francisco V, et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of Cymbopogon citratus leaf infusion in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated dendritic cells: contribution of the polyphenols. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2010;13(3):681-690.
10. Ganjewala D. Cymbopogon essential oils: chemical compositions and bioactivities. International Journal of Essential Oil Therapeutics. 2009;3:56-65.
11. Akhila A, editor. Essential Oil-Bearing Grasses: The Genus Cymbopogon. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 2010.
12. Costa CA, Bidinotto LT, et al. Evaluation of the toxic potential of the hydroalcoholic extract of Cymbopogon citratus leaves in rodents (compiled safety observations through mid-2010s literature).
13. Subha S and related periodontal research groups. Short-term clinical observations on diluted lemongrass oil mouthwashes for plaque and gingivitis control (reports appearing 2015–2017).
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
