Comparative analysis of the oil and supercritical CO2extract ofCymbopogon citratusStapf

Ethnobotanical uses, phytochemistry and bioactivities of Cymbopogon plants: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cymbopogon (Poaceae) plants have been used for various purposes by many indigenous peoples in all continents. In particular, almost all species in the genus have traditionally been used as folk medicine to treat ailments. Traditional application records indicated that Cymbopogon might be used extensively to treat cold, dizziness, headache, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, rheumatism, diarrhea, whole grass for cold, sore throat, tracheitis and others.

AIMS OF THE REVIEW

Despite several research confirmed that Cymbopogon includes a range of active components, no review has been undertaken to consolidate information on its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and/or quality control. Thus this article aims to update a comprehensive review about the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, cultivation techniques, economic benefits, trade, threats, and future conservation implications of Cymbopogon species. It may provide informative data for future development and further investigation of this important plant group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Traditional medicinal books and ethnomedicinal publications related to Cymbopogon from 1992 to 2023 were collated to investigate its ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological information. The online databases including Google Scholar, SciFinder, Web of Science, Scopus, Springer Link, PubMed, Wiley, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Baidu Scholar, and WanFang Database were screened.

RESULTS

Cymbopogon (Gramineae or Poaceae) plants have been grown worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine and other medicinal systems believes that Cymbopogon has the effect of relieve a cough, analgesia, treating dizziness, traumatic injury and can relieve abdominal pain. A total of 153 compounds, including flavonoids, terpenoids, fatty acid and other compounds were isolated or identified from Cymbopogon species by phytochemical studies. The extracts or compounds from Cymbopogon have exhibited numerous biological activities such as antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antiviral, antineoplastic, antiarrhythmic, antidiabetic and other activities. The rich contents of citronellal, citronellol and geraniol found in Cymbopogon also provide significant nutritional benefits.

CONCLUSION

Based on their traditional uses, phytochemicals, and pharmacological activities, Cymbopogon plants are potential medicinal and edible resources with diverse pharmacological effects. Due to various advantages of this group, they possess huge application potential in food and pharmaceutical industries, and animal husbandry. Among them, citronella is very important in terms of economic development. Further comprehensive research to evaluate the medicinal properties of Cymbopogon species will be necessary for future development.

Chemical Properties and Therapeutic Potential of Citral, a Monoterpene Isolated from Lemongrass

BACKGROUND

Citral is one of the main components of lemongrass oil present at a concentration of 65-85% approximately and is generally separated by steam refining. It is an important component in the manufacturing of scents, citrus chemicals, cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical products.

OBJECTIVES

This article aims at reviewing the published literature to highlight the metabolism, extraction strategies and therapeutic significance of citral for improving the scope of its application in the food and pharma industry.

DISCUSSIONS

Apart from steam refining, there are other techniques like solvent extraction, supercritical fluid extraction and ultrasonication by which citral can be extracted and the method of extraction defines its quality. It is an unstable molecule and undergoes rapid deterioration on exposure to air. Citral is biosynthesized by the plants through the 5 carbon precursor isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) units utilizing two diverse biochemical pathways, acetate- mevalonate (acetate- MVA) pathway or 2C-methylerythritol-4-phosphate (MEP). Orally Citral was absolutely digested in the gastrointestinal tract and its metabolism leads to the discharge of metabolites which include a number of acids and a biliary glucuronide. There is no scientific evidence about the long term bioavailability of citral in the body and it has no adverse effect on tissue related to its accumulation and delayed excretion. Citral exhibits various important therapeutic properties like antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory.

CONCLUSION

Citral is a potent biomolecule with various important biological activities and therapeutic implications. Strategies are required to increase the stability of citral which could increase its applications.

Antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity and chemical analysis of lemongrass essential oil (Cymbopogon flexuosus) and pure citral

The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial effects of lemongrass essential oil (C. flexuosus) and to determine cytotoxic effects of both test compounds on human dermal fibroblasts. Antimicrobial susceptibility screening was carried out using the disk diffusion method. Antimicrobial resistance was observed in four of five Acinetobacter baumannii strains with two strains confirmed as multi-drug-resistant (MDR). All the strains tested were susceptible to both lemongrass and citral with zones of inhibition varying between 17 to 80 mm. The mean minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of citral (mic—0.14 % and mbc—0.3 % v/v) was lower than that of Lemongrass (mic—0.65 % and mbc—1.1 % v/v) determined using the microtitre plate method. Cell viability using human dermal fibroblasts (HDF; 106-05a) was determined following exposure to both compounds and a control (Grapeseed oil) using the XTT assay and the IC₅₀ determined at 0.095 % (v/v) for citral and 0.126 % (v/v) for lemongrass. Grapeseed oil had no effect on cell viability. Live cell imaging was performed using the LumaScope 500 imaging equipment and changes in HDF cell morphology such as necrotic features and shrinkage were observed. The ability of lemongrass essential oil (EO) and citral to inhibit and kill MDR A. baumannii highlights its potential for use in the management of drug-resistant infections; however, in vitro cytotoxicity does suggest further tests are needed before in vivo or ex vivo human exposure.

Extraction ofLantana camaraessential oil by supercritical carbon dioxide: influence of the grinding and biological activity

The aim of this study was to produce Lantana camara essential oil by SFE and to study the effect of matrix grinding on the yield and/or composition of the extract. Experiments were carried out on grinding matrices (G) and on not grinding matrices (NG). The extracts were analyzed by GC-MS. A comparison with the oil obtained by hydrodistillation is also given. Finally, the antibacterial and antifungal activity of the various extracts has been assayed.