Lemongrass

Introduction

When it comes to lemongrass, most people immediately refer to the fragrance of the same name used in many anti-mosquito products; in fact, the essential oil extracted from the lemongrass plant is rich in geraniol and citronellol, monoterpenic alcohols with known properties repellents.

The citronella essence is particularly appreciated by natural cosmetics, in order to make the fragrance of countless cosmetic products more pleasant. But the uses of this fragrant plant do not stop only in the cosmetic sphere: few, for example, know its bizarre use culinary as an aroma of sauces, soups and herbal teas.

Botanical description

Lemongrass plants (Cymbopogon nardus or Andropogon nardus) belong to the Graminaceae family: we are analyzing evergreen perennial herbs, typical of areas with a tropical or warm-temperate climate, structurally comparable to sorghum. Showing a typically bushy posture, lemongrass generally do not exceed one meter in height; the leaves, with a papery consistency, are ribbon-like, 60-70 centimeters long, and show off a beautiful bright green, sometimes tinged with blue. [Stroke from wikipedia]
The leaves are supported by erect and rigid stems, comparable, in some ways, to bamboos; the characteristic that distinguishes the lemongrass leaves is the intense fragrance emanating in the environment, with a sweet and citrus note.

Chemical composition

The lemongrass plant gives the same name to the essence obtained; precisely, the essential oil of lemongrass can be extracted from two different species, the Java lemongrass (or Cymbopogon winterianus) and Ceylon lemongrass (Cymbopogon nardus), arboreal-bushy plants belonging to the Graminaceae family.

1. Java lemongrass

It is a typical plant of China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Colombia and Brazil, cultivated for the lemongrass oil of the same name. It consists of a consistent amount of citronellol.

2. Ceylon lemongrass

It is grown mostly in Sri Lanka and is equally exploited for its essential oil.

In terms of molecular chemical composition, the two varieties do not differ much from each other; The essential oil - obtained by steam distillation - consists of a large part of geraniol (ranging from 15 to 20%), borneol (max 8%), citronellal (5-15%), citronellol (max 10 %), neral and methyl-eugenol. [composition of the essential oil taken from Reasoned dictionary of herbal medicine and phytotherapy, by A. Bruni, M. Nicoletti]
The citronella essence is also partly found in basil and geranium.

Employments

We have seen that the use of lemongrass is centered on the use of essential oil for the formulation of repellent products (candles, ointments, body sprays, etc.); however, given its extremely intense and penetrating essence, lemongrass it is also very popular in perfumery and in the food sector for flavoring sauces, soups and herbal teas.

Property

There are numerous medicinal virtues ascribed to lemongrass essential oil: antiseptic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, vermifuge, astringent, analgesic and decongestant. On the CNS, lemongrass produces a calming and rebalancing effect. a natural remedy to combat aerophagia and stomach bloating.
Arguably, lemongrass is also useful for balancing the menstrual cycle.

Hypothetical antitumor activity

Recently, some Israeli researchers observed that a species belonging to the genus Cymbopogon it is able to destroy cancer cells: the citral contained in the essence of citronella induces the apoptosis of harmful cells. However, only in vitro studies have been carried out, so it has not yet been proven that lemongrass can actually forge the title of "anti-cancer plant".

Summary

Lemongrass: TO FIX CONCEPTS

Lemongrass Repellent substance par excellence
Cosmetics → makes the fragrance of products more pleasant
Cuisine → aroma of sauces, soups and herbal teas Citronella: brief botanical description

• Botanical name: Cymbopogon nardus or Andropogon nardus
• Family: Graminaceae
• Description of the plant: evergreen perennial herbs typical of tropical or warm-temperate climate areas
• Habit: bushy
• Height: 1 meter
• Leaves: paper consistency, ribbon-like, 60-70 centimeters long, bright green, sometimes tinged with blue
• Stems: erect and rigid, bamboo-like

Lemongrass: distinctive feature Intense fragrance emanating in the environment, with a sweet and citrus note Lemongrass: variety

1. Java lemongrass → typical plant of China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Colombia and Brazil. Consistent amount of citronellol
2. Lemongrass from Ceylon → Sri Lanka. Exploited for its essential oil

Lemongrass: essential oil and chemical composition

• Geraniol (variable from 15 to 20%)
• Borneol (max 8%)
• Citronellal (5-15%)
• Citronellol (max 10%)
• Nerale
• Methyl eugenol

Lemongrass essential oil: uses Mainly → for the production of repellent products
Perfumery → perfumes
Cuisine → herbal teas, soups Lemongrass essential oil: properties

• Antiseptic
• Antidepressant
• Anti-inflammatory
• Diuretics
• Vermifuge
• Astringent
• Analgesic
• Decongestant
• Calming
• Rebalancing of the CNS
• Natural remedy to combat aerophagia and stomach bloating
• Balance the menstrual cycle

Lemongrass essential oil and possible anticancer activity Citral in citronella essence: induces tumor cells to apoptosis → IN VITRO STUDIES → the theory is not yet scientifically confirmed