Lemongrass Oil

Traditional Uses:

Lemongrass is a perennial and intensely fragrant herb, native to Asia, and widely cultivated as a commercial crop throughout the tropics and subtropics of the world, is not new to Nepal.

Lemongrass is an aromatic and cooling herb that is used to increase perspiration and relieve fevers and help treat minor, feverish illnesses. Furthermore, it also acts as a diuretic and helps promote urination and relieves retained water.

It is well known for its invigorating and antiseptic properties. An excellent anti-depressant, it tones and fortifies the nervous system and can be used in bath for soothing muscular nerves and pain. It is refreshing, cleansing and stimulating tonic on the body, and added to shampoos aids in adding a shine to the hair. It is antiseptic and astringent oil. This sweet and powerful oil makes a good refreshing and deodorizing room fragrance. Lemongrass is considered a bitte and said to help the gastrointestinal tract and ease indigestion, flatulence and stomach discomforts. This grass is rich in a substance called citral, the active ingredient that is also in lemon peel, and this substance is said to relieve digestive disturbances and intestinal irritations.

Traditionally it is used as an insect repellent, for athlete's foot, as a tissue toner, to relieve muscular pain (sports-muscle pain), increase circulation, for headaches, for nervous exhaustion and other stress related problems.

Lemongrass oil is obtained by steam distillation of partially wilted leaves of Cymbopogon flexuosus (D. C.) Stapf

1. Organoleptic Properties:

Appearance: Fluid liquid

Color: Deep yellow to orange-brown

Aroma: Fresh-grassy lemon-type

2. Physico - Chemical Properties:

Specific Gravity: 0.8725 to 0.8965 at 25º C

Optical Rotation: (-) 1.25º to (-) 5º at 25º C

Refractive Index: 1.4850 to 1.4936 at 25º C

Acid No: 2 to 10

Ester No: 15 to 40

Ester No: after Acetylation: 220 to 260

Solubility: Soluble in 0.5 to 1.5 vol. of 80% alcohol

3. Packing:

Aluminum containers and epoxy-lined metallic barrels

500g, 1 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg, 50 kg, 100 kg, capacities

4. Uses:

a) In flavors, cosmetics and perfumery

b) Medicinal & Aromatherapy use

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

References:

Adams R. (2001), Identification of essential oil components by gas chromatophy/ quadrupole mass spectroscopy, Allured Publishing Co, Carol Stream, USA.

Dudai N, et al. Essential oils as allochemicals and their potential use as bioherbicides. J Chem Ecol . 1999;25:1079-1089

Guenther, E. 1948: The essential oils, Vol. 1-5. Van Norstrand. (ISB 0-88275-073-9)

Lawless, J. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils - The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in Aromatherapy and Herbalism, Element, Shaftesbury, 1995

Lawless, J. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils . Element Books, Inc. Rockport, MA 1995;132

Leung A. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics . New York, NY: J Wiley and Sons; 1980.

Leite J, et al. Pharmacology of lemongrass ( Cymbopogon citratus Stapf.) III. Assessment of eventual toxic, hypnotic and anxiolytic effects on humans. J Ethnopharmacol . 1986;17:75-83

Lewis W. (1977), Medical Botany. Plants AffectingMan’s Health. John Wiley & Sons, New York

McGuffin M, et al. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook . Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 1997.

Medicinal Plants of Nepal, His Majesty's Government of Nepal, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Department of Plant Resources, 6th Edition, Kathmandu, 2001

Newall, C.A., L.A. Anderson and J.D. Phillipson. 1996. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-care Professionals. London: The Pharmaceutical Press.