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Lemongrass

Health Conditions28
Table of contents

Other Names

Andropogon ceriferAndropogon ceriferusAndropogon citratusAndropogon citriodorusAndropogon nardus subsp. ceriferAndropogon roxburghiibaliokobarbed wire grassBhu-trnabhustarahbhustrinacamel's haycana-cidreiracana-limãocapim cidraocapim santocitron grasscitronella grasscitronelleCochin grassCymbopogon citratusCymbopogon flexuosusCymbopogon nardus subvar. citratusEast Indian lemongrasserba di limoneerva-cidreirafever grassgandhabenagandhatrangandhatrinagavati chahahashisha al-limunherbe citronherbe de citronhierba limonIndian verbenainjippullukhavikooko-obalemon grassLemongraslilachalimonova trevamajjigehalluMalabar grassmoegalomoengālōnimmagaddining men caooil grassoily headspasto limónsa chanhsabalinsalaiseraseraiserai dapurserehsilky headssweet rushtakhraitakraitangladtauj dubte limonvasanapulluverveine des IndesWest Indian lemongrassxaxiang maoxiang mao caozabalinzacate de limónzacate limonZitronellgrasZitronengras

Synopsis

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon flexuosus): A Comprehensive Reference

1. Identity and Botanical Description

1.1 Scientific Classification and Nomenclature

West Indian lemongrass is formally identified as Cymbopogon citratus (DC. ex Nees) Stapf, with the synonym Andropogon citratus DC. ex Nees. East Indian lemongrass, its close relative and commercial counterpart, is known as Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Steud) J.F. Watson. Common names include lemongrass, West Indian lemongrass (C. citratus), and East Indian lemongrass (C. flexuosus); the Sanskrit name is Bhu-trna, meaning "earth grass."

The genus Cymbopogon belongs to the grass family, Poaceae (synonym Gramineae). The genus comprises about 180 species, subspecies, varieties, and subvarieties. The name Cymbopogon derives from the Greek words kymbe (κύμβη, "boat") and pogon (πώγων, "beard"), reflecting the fact that in most species, the hairy spikelets project from boat-shaped spathes.

East Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus), also called Cochin grass or Malabar grass, is native to Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand, while West Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is native to maritime Southeast Asia. While both can be used interchangeably, C. citratus is more suitable for cooking.

Lemongrass is an indigenous aromatic, evergreen, clump-forming, perennial grass with a strong lemony scent that thrives in tropical and subtropical regions such as Southeast Asia, including Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and North and Southern India. This tropical grass grows in dense clumps that can reach 6 ft (1.8 m) in height and about 4 ft (1.2 m) in width, with a short rhizome.

Cymbopogon citratus is native to South Asia and Maritime Southeast Asia (Malesia). After World War I, lemongrass was introduced to Madagascar, South America, and Central America, and has since been naturalized throughout the tropics and subtropics worldwide.

In its native range, Cymbopogon citratus is known as sereh, serai, or serai dapur in Indonesia and Malaysia, and tanglad, salai, or balioko in the Philippines. In different cultures, lemongrass is also referred to as Takrai in Thailand and Xiāng máo in China.

1.2 Common Forms and Preparations

Freshly cut and partially dried leaves are used medicinally and are the source of the essential oil. Lemongrass is usually ingested as an infusion made by pouring boiling water over fresh or dried leaves, and it is one of the most widely used plants in South American traditional medicine.

Hydro-steam distillation, condensation, and cooling can be used to separate the oil from the water. The hydrosol, as a by-product of the distillation process, is used for the production of skin care products such as lotions, creams, and facial cleansers.

Common preparations documented in the literature include: fresh stalks and leaves used in cooking; dried leaf infusions and teas (decoctions); essential oil obtained via steam distillation; ethanolic and aqueous extracts used in research; capsules containing dried herb or standardized essential oil; and topical formulations including diluted essential oil, infused carrier oils, and mouthrinses.

2. Traditional and Historical Use

2.1 South and Southeast Asia

Lemongrass has a long history of use dating back thousands of years in traditional medicine, culinary practices, and cultural rituals across Asia, Africa, and South America. Originating in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia, lemongrass has been cultivated and valued for its aromatic, medicinal, and culinary properties for centuries.

In ancient India and China, lemongrass was widely used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine to treat digestive issues, fever, infections, and inflammation. It was also believed to have detoxifying and calming effects, often brewed into teas or applied as an herbal remedy.

In Asia and Africa, lemongrass essential oil (LGEO) is used as antiseptic, antitussive, and anti-rheumatic, and to treat backache, sprains, and hemoptysis. Infusions of its leaves are used in alternative medicine as sedative, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory. In some African countries, it is used to treat diabetes.

In the continents of Asia, South America, and Africa, the leaves have traditionally been utilized as tea or decoction, as these contain essential bioactive compounds that determine the plant's various ethno-medicinal properties. Additionally, they are employed as deodorants in numerous products such as perfume, local soaps, candles, and other insect repellents.

2.2 South America

Lemongrass is now used as a tea to boost immunity in the Caribbean and to ease anxiety in Brazilian folk medicine. A herbal tea called an abafado in Brazil, prepared from the dried leaves of lemongrass, has been used in that country's folk medicine.

2.3 Cultural and Ritual Uses

In Hoodoo, lemongrass is the primary ingredient in van van oil and is used to clear energy and bring the wearer good luck. In regions like the Caribbean, lemongrass earned the nickname "Fever Grass" for its traditional use in helping reduce fevers and illnesses.

Lemongrass gained international popularity during the early spice trade era when it became beloved and grown outside its home in the Asian tropics. Over time, its medicinal use spread across the Middle East and Africa, where it became an important part of folk medicine and natural healing practices. By the 15th and 16th centuries, lemongrass was introduced to Europe and the Caribbean through trade routes, where it gained popularity for its essential oil.

Lemongrass is well recognized in many countries as a flavoring agent and for treatment of infections, stomach aches, and rheumatic pain in traditional medical practice.

3. Key Constituents and Active Compounds

3.1 Volatile / Essential Oil Constituents

Oxygenated monoterpenoids are the major constituents of lemongrass essential oil, comprising approximately 70–85% of the oil as geranial (citral), neral, geraniol, nerol, citronellol, 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol), α-terpineol, linalool, and geranyl acetate.

The volatile composition of lemongrass is dominated by citral, a mixture of two geometric isomers — neral and geranial — that contribute approximately 34.6% and 48.1%, respectively, to the lemony aroma. More precisely, the main constituents of the volatile oil are predominantly monoterpenes: α-citral (geranial, 36.08%), β-citral (neral, 34.22%), and β-myrcene (13.84%).

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis has confirmed that the two major components in lemongrass essential oil are geranial (42.2%) and neral (31.5%).

3.2 Non-Volatile / Polyphenolic Constituents

The isolated compounds of C. citratus are of diverse chemical classes including tannins, sterols, terpenoids, phenols, ketones, flavonoids, and sugars.

Lemongrass consists of luteolin and its 6-C and 7-O–glycosides, isoorientin 2'-O-rhamnoside, and the flavonoids quercetin, kaempferol, and apigenin from the aerial parts.

The main constituents of the active polyphenol-rich fraction of C. citratus, as identified by HPLC-DAD–MS analysis, were chlorogenic acid, isoorientin, and swertiajaponin.

To date, 158 lemongrass compounds have been reported, including terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids.

Isolated and identified new triterpenoids from leaf wax include cymbopogone and cymbopogonol.

The chemical composition of the essential oil and extracts of C. citratus varies according to the geographical origin, age, and nature of the plant.

3.3 Established Mechanisms of Action

Antimicrobial Mechanism

Recent evidence indicates that essential oils exert antimicrobial activity through multiple concurrent mechanisms, including disruption of microbial cell membranes, interference with energy metabolism, induction of oxidative stress, and modulation of key regulatory pathways associated with virulence and biofilm formation. Nanoemulsion delivery systems of lemongrass essential oil enhance aqueous dispersion and increase droplet–cell contact, enabling sustained release of citral at the cell surface. These mechanistic insights are consistent with findings that hydrophobic constituents of essential oils interact directly with bacterial cell envelopes, resulting in membrane destabilization, enhanced permeability, and leakage of intracellular components.

Anti-inflammatory Mechanism

Chlorogenic acid (CA), the primary phenolic acid in lemongrass, is a crucial anti-inflammatory substance. It has been identified that the expression of cytokines is inhibited by chlorogenic acid through the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. CA may also exert anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK).

An animal study of citral showed that it significantly inhibited oxidative stress, apoptosis, and macrophage and nuclear factor-κB activation, demonstrating beneficial action through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Antihypertensive / Vasorelaxant Mechanism

Both citral and lemongrass display vasorelaxant activity ex vivo, acting by the promotion of endothelial nitric oxide/prostanoid secretion together with the blockage of calcium channels in the vascular smooth muscle. Citral also displays a negative chronotrope effect, probably due to a centrally mediated enhancement of parasympathetic activity.

Anticancer Mechanism

Lemongrass oil and citral emulsions initiate cancer cell death by decreasing cell proliferation, increasing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), altering mitochondrial membrane potential, and initiating apoptosis. Citral from lemongrass induces apoptosis by driving the lipogenesis pathway; it suppresses colony formation, inhibits lipogenesis, and induces cell death through apoptosis. Induction of AMPK and downregulation of crucial genes involved in lipogenesis result in antiproliferative effects.

4. Scientific Evidence by Area of Use

4.1 Antimicrobial Activity

Lemongrass essential oil is a potent antimicrobial and antioxidant natural bioproduct widely used in food preservation as an alternative to synthetic compounds.

In vitro, lemongrass essential oil (specifically geranial, neral, and eucalyptol) inhibited microbial biofilm produced by different foodborne pathogens and spoilage bacteria including B. cereus, B. subtilis, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, L. monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella choleraesuis, and S. aureus.

Lemongrass essential oil and its bioactive component citral were previously demonstrated to possess strong antimicrobial efficacy against pathogenic bacteria and fungi; however, their effects on polymicrobial biofilms remained to be determined. One study evaluated the efficacy of C. flexuosus essential oil and citral against dual-species biofilms formed by Staphylococcus aureus and Candida species in vitro.

Investigations demonstrated that lemongrass essential oil can eradicate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vitro.

Lemon grass oil is active against 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, ringworm fungi, and food storage fungi.

Evidence strength: The antimicrobial evidence base is substantial but largely preclinical (in vitro and laboratory-based). No large-scale randomized controlled trials in humans are available for infection treatment. Evidence is strong for in vitro activity, particularly against fungi, MRSA, and food pathogens.

4.2 Anti-inflammatory Activity

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) essential oil (LEO), which has citral as its main component, has exhibited anti-inflammatory effects in both animal and human cells. One study specifically evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of a commercially available LEO in pre-inflamed human dermal fibroblasts.

LEO significantly inhibited production of the inflammatory biomarkers vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10), interferon-inducible T-cell alpha chemoattractant (I-TAC), and monokine induced by gamma interferon (MIG); decreased levels of the tissue remodeling biomarkers collagen-I and III, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1); and inhibited the immunomodulatory biomarker macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF).

Furthermore, LEO significantly modulated global gene expression and robustly impacted signaling pathways critical for inflammation and tissue remodeling processes. This study provides the first evidence of the anti-inflammatory activity of LEO in human skin cells, indicating it is a candidate for treating inflammatory conditions of the skin. It should be noted that this study was funded by a commercial essential oil manufacturer and was conducted in cell culture, not in human subjects.

In a mouse study, treatment with water extract of lemongrass inhibited macrophages from producing IL-1β but induced IL-6 production by these cells. Lemongrass essential oil inhibited cytokine production in vitro.

Topical and oral administration of LEO significantly inhibited chemically induced skin inflammation in a mouse model. Another study showed that LEO elicited significant anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects in a mouse edema model.

Evidence strength: Evidence for anti-inflammatory properties is primarily in vitro and in animal models. The human cell study (dermal fibroblasts) is promising but is not a clinical trial. No adequately powered randomized controlled trials in human subjects for inflammatory conditions have been identified.

4.3 Anxiety and Neurological Effects

One randomized clinical trial investigated the effects of the aroma of lemongrass on anxiety levels and hemodynamic factors during nonsurgical periodontal treatment. Thirty-eight patients were divided into two groups; the patients completed the Spielberger questionnaire to measure their level of dental anxiety, and blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, pain, and satisfaction with treatment were evaluated. In the case group, the nonsurgical periodontal therapy was performed while the patient inhaled the aroma of lemongrass.

The conclusion of this randomized clinical trial was that inhalation of lemongrass essential oil appears beneficial for reducing anxiety and associated hemodynamic changes, and that aromatherapy with lemongrass may alleviate dental patients' anxiety.

The eventual hypnotic effect of lemongrass was investigated in 50 volunteers who ingested samples of lemongrass and a placebo under double-blind conditions. A study in humans found no effect of the tea on experimental anxiety.

Aqueous leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus (CYC), otherwise known as lemongrass tea, has shown antidepressant, anxiolytic, and anti-amnesic effects in rodents. Previous pharmacological studies have established that lemongrass has sedative, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, anxiolytic, and memory-promoting effects in preclinical animal models.

Evidence strength: Preclinical (rodent) evidence is consistent. Human evidence is very limited: one small randomized clinical trial (38 patients, aromatherapy for dental anxiety) showed a benefit; one earlier double-blind human study found no effect on anxiety from oral tea. The two available human studies differ in route of administration (inhalation vs. oral) and methodology. Overall human evidence is preliminary and insufficient to draw firm conclusions.

4.4 Antihypertensive and Cardiovascular Effects

In both healthy and hypertensive animals, the acute administration of lemongrass results in a decrease in blood pressure, sometimes accompanied by a compensatory increase in heart rate.

In animal models and in human subjects, lemongrass significantly decreases blood pressure, probably due to the combination of vasorelaxant effects, calcium channel blockade, and diuretic activity.

In a study involving normotensive human subjects, lemongrass infusions administered to 105 test subjects lowered blood pressure indices.

However, the anti-hypertensive potential of lemongrass has not yet been thoroughly studied. The published reviews cover anti-hypertensive effects of both lemongrass and its main compound citral in in vitro, ex vivo, preclinical, and clinical studies.

Evidence strength: There is a pharmacologically plausible mechanism (vasorelaxation via endothelial nitric oxide/calcium channel blockade). Preclinical data are consistent. A human study in normotensive subjects (n=105) showed lowered blood pressure indices; however, this was not a large-scale controlled trial in hypertensive patients. Evidence is promising but still preliminary for clinical recommendations.

4.5 Lipid-Lowering (Cholesterol) Effects

In a study of 22 human hypercholesterolemic subjects who took a daily capsule containing 140 mg of lemongrass essential oil, Elson and colleagues (1989) showed evidence that the constituents of lemongrass oil effectively lowered cholesterol levels among this hypercholesterolemic subset.

Adeneye and Agbaje (2007) showed dose-dependent effects of weight loss, hypoglycemia, and hypolipidemia in normal Wistar rats after a single, daily oral dosing (125–500 mg/kg) of fresh aqueous leaf extract of C. citratus for 42 days.

Protein hydrolysates from lemongrass have shown potential cholesterol-lowering effects in vitro through HMG-CoA reductase inhibition and in vivo through significant reduction of cholesterol levels in an animal model.

Preliminary data from a clinical study suggest that some participants experienced slight improvements in cholesterol levels, particularly reductions in LDL and triglycerides; however, these changes were not statistically significant and require further investigation in larger, more controlled studies.

Evidence strength: The only published human study (Elson et al., 1989) was small (n=22) and is now several decades old. Animal data are consistent with a lipid-lowering effect. More recent clinical evidence remains preliminary and non-significant. Evidence is insufficient for clinical recommendations without larger, well-designed trials.

4.6 Antioxidant and Endothelial Protective Effects

The main constituents of an active polyphenol-rich fraction of C. citratus — chlorogenic acid, isoorientin, and swertiajaponin — were identified. At concentrations of 10 and 100 μg/ml, this fraction diminished reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), challenged with high glucose (60% inhibition) and hydrogen peroxide (80% inhibition).

One study assessed the inhibitory effect of three C-glycosylflavonoids from lemongrass leaves — isoorientin, swertiajaponin, and isoorientin 2"-O-rhamnoside — on human LDL oxidation.

Evidence strength: Antioxidant effects are well characterized in vitro. Human cell-based evidence (HUVECs) demonstrates a plausible mechanism; however, no clinical studies of antioxidant endpoints have been conducted. Evidence is mechanistically strong in vitro but not clinically validated.

4.7 Anticancer / Antitumor Activity

In colorectal cancer research, lemongrass extract induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner without harming healthy cells in vitro. Importantly, oral administration of lemongrass extract inhibited the growth of human colorectal cancer (CRC) xenografts in immunocompromised mice; and in vivo, lemongrass enhanced the efficacy of FOLFOX in reducing tumor growth.

Lemongrass extract was investigated for its potential anti-cancer activity in human lymphoma and leukemia models. The extract was able to reduce viability and selectively induce apoptosis in lymphoma and leukemia cells in vitro.

Concentrations of 44.5 μM, comparable to the concentration of citral in a cup of tea prepared from 1 g of lemongrass, induced apoptosis in several hematopoietic cancer cell lines, accompanied by DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 catalytic activity induction.

Citral (3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienal), from lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), has been reported to have a cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cells. A study evaluated the in vivo effect of citral in targeting aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity of breast cancer cells; BALB/c mice were challenged with 4T1 breast cancer cells followed by daily oral feeding of 50 mg/kg citral or distilled water for two weeks.

Evidence strength: Evidence is limited to in vitro cell culture and animal (xenograft) models. No human clinical trials evaluating lemongrass as an anticancer treatment have been conducted. The preclinical data are encouraging but cannot be directly extrapolated to clinical efficacy in humans. This area warrants further investigation.

4.8 Glycemic / Antidiabetic Effects

Pharmacological and clinical studies have indicated that lemongrass has hypoglycemic effects. Animal studies have demonstrated dose-dependent reductions in blood glucose levels with aqueous leaf extract. In some African countries, lemongrass is used traditionally to treat diabetes.

Evidence strength: Currently primarily preclinical (animal model). No adequately powered human clinical trials for glycemic outcomes have been identified. Evidence is insufficient to support clinical recommendations.

4.9 Insect Repellent Properties

Species of Cymbopogon are used for the production of citronella oil, which is used in soaps, as an insect repellent (especially against mosquitoes and houseflies) in insect sprays and candles, and in aromatherapy. The principal chemical constituents of citronella, geraniol, and citronellol, are antiseptics.

5. Body Systems and Health Areas of Association

  • Digestive system: Traditional use for bloating, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Pharmacological activities documented include anti-amoebic and antidiarrheal properties.
  • Cardiovascular system: Vasorelaxant activity through promotion of endothelial nitric oxide/prostanoid secretion and blockage of calcium channels in the vascular smooth muscle.
  • Immune / inflammatory system: Modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6) and inhibition of the NF-κB and MAPK pathways.
  • Central nervous system: Sedative, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and antidepressant effects demonstrated in animal models.
  • Dermatological system: Anti-inflammatory activity in human skin cells; considered a candidate for treating inflammatory conditions of the skin.
  • Metabolic / endocrine system: Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects observed in preclinical models.
  • Oncology: Preclinical apoptotic and antiproliferative activity in cancer cell lines and xenograft models.
  • Respiratory system: Lemongrass is a member of the Poaceae family with medicinal value in relieving cough and nasal congestion.

6. Dosage Forms and Reported Dosages

The following dosages are those specifically reported in the cited scientific literature. They are not recommendations.

  • Essential oil capsule (hypercholesterolemia, human study): In the Elson et al. (1989) study of 22 hypercholesterolemic subjects, participants took a daily capsule containing 140 mg of lemongrass essential oil.
  • Aqueous leaf extract (animal, antidiabetic/antilipidemic): Adeneye and Agbaje (2007) used doses of 125–500 mg/kg/day of fresh aqueous leaf extract in Wistar rats for 42 days, producing dose-dependent weight loss, hypoglycemia, and hypolipidemia.
  • Essential oil (animal, repeated-dose toxicity study): A single-dose oral LD50 in mice was found to be approximately 3,500 mg/kg. In a repeated-dose 21-day oral toxicity study, mice received lemongrass essential oil at 1, 10, or 100 mg/kg/day.
  • Oral extract (animal, anticancer/stress study): In a social defeat stress mouse study, C. citratus was administered at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, p.o. daily for 14 days.
  • Citral oral administration (breast cancer animal study): BALB/c mice received daily oral feeding of 50 mg/kg citral for two weeks.
  • Herbal tea / infusion (human safety study, Brazil): A herbal tea prepared from dried leaves of lemongrass was administered to healthy volunteers; following a single dose or 2 weeks of daily oral administration, no clinically significant biochemical changes were observed.
  • Aromatherapy / inhalation (human clinical trial, dental anxiety): In the randomized clinical trial investigating effects on dental anxiety, 38 patients inhaled the aroma of lemongrass during nonsurgical periodontal treatment. Specific concentration details were not reported in the available abstract data.

7. Safety Considerations and Interactions

7.1 General Oral Tolerability

Following a single dose or 2 weeks of daily oral administration of lemongrass herbal tea in healthy volunteers, there were no changes in serum glucose, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, triglycerides, lipids, bilirubin, liver enzymes, or renal markers. Urine analysis and EEG and EKG showed no abnormalities. There were slight elevations of direct bilirubin and amylase in some volunteers, but without clinical manifestation. These results indicate that lemongrass as used in Brazilian folk medicine is not toxic for humans in this context.

In a 21-day repeated-dose oral study of lemongrass essential oil in mice, no significant changes in gross pathology, body weight, absolute or relative organ weights, histology of brain, heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, stomach, spleen or urinary bladder, urinalysis, or clinical biochemistry were observed relative to control groups.

7.2 Skin Sensitization and Contact Dermatitis

Citral in lemongrass is a known cause of contact sensitization; in most cases, a single constituent (such as citral in lemongrass) is responsible for the allergic reaction. Dilution and risk are directly related: the more dilute an essential oil, the lower the risk, and the more concentrated an essential oil, the greater the risk.

Four cases of allergic contact dermatitis to essential oils occurring in aromatherapists and a chemist with an interest in aromatherapy have been described. All presented with predominantly hand dermatitis and demonstrated sensitization to multiple essential oils. One patient developed a recurrence of cutaneous symptoms following ingestion of lemongrass tea.

The lemongrass tea caused a recurrence of contact dermatitis in at least one documented case. This phenomenon — systemic contact dermatitis triggered by oral intake in topically sensitized individuals — is clinically significant.

7.3 Drug-Metabolizing Enzyme Interactions

Lemongrass oil and citral had little or no effect on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in a rat study. Because CYP3A is the most important isoform related to the oxidative biotransformation of numerous medicines in humans, further studies are needed to investigate possible herb-drug interactions.

Citral may be the major component responsible for effects on hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes. Lemongrass oil and citral treatment had different effects on increasing phase II detoxifying enzyme activity in the liver.

7.4 Potential Anticancer Drug Interactions

In animal studies, lemongrass compounds clearly synergized with FOLFOX to reduce growth of xenografted tumors. Lemongrass treatment groups showed similar weight gain profiles with control mice, indicating the treatment was generally well tolerated. In contrast, FOLFOX-injected mice stopped gaining weight after the second injection. Oral administration of lemongrass was able to mitigate this adverse effect in FOLFOX-injected mice. These findings are exclusively from preclinical models and should not be extrapolated to clinical oncology without further investigation.

7.5 Evidence Gaps and Research Limitations

Lemongrass is a herb commonly used in folk medicine for many purposes; however, its pharmacological potential has not yet been thoroughly studied in well-designed clinical trials. The preponderance of evidence across most areas of putative benefit remains preclinical (in vitro and animal). Chemical composition variability according to geographical origin, age, and nature of the plant further complicates standardization for clinical research. The anti-hypertensive review published in 2022 in Biology (Basel) called for future preclinical studies to identify additional anti-hypertensive compounds and pathways, as well as to better characterize the safety profile of lemongrass.

References

Health Conditions

Health conditions that Lemongrass may help support.

  • Lemongrass polyphenols and essential oil demonstrate significant antioxidant capacity in human cell studies. C. citratus polyphenols protected human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from oxidative damage induced by high glucose, hydrogen peroxide, and oxidized LDL. The plant's high phenolic content (chlorogenic acid, isoorientin, luteolin) confers free radical scavenging and metal chelation activity.

  • AnxietyScientific

    Two human clinical studies show lemongrass essential oil (LGEO) inhalation reduces state anxiety. A 2025 RCT in dental patients undergoing scaling and root planing found LGEO aromatherapy improved anxiety scores and hemodynamic measures. An earlier controlled human study found brief exposure to lemongrass aroma reduced state anxiety and subjective tension, with full recovery from an anxiety-inducing task within 5 minutes.

  • Lemongrass essential oil mouthwash has been shown in clinical studies to reduce oral malodor, partly through its action on periodontal pathogens that produce volatile sulfur compounds. A 2024 scoping review identified oral malodor reduction as a documented clinical effect of LGEO, with efficacy noted in periodontal patients.

  • Blood PressureScientific

    Lemongrass tea has been shown to decrease blood pressure in both healthy and hypertensive human subjects in clinical studies. Citral promotes vasorelaxation via endothelial vasodilator secretion and calcium channel blockade in vascular smooth muscle. A comprehensive 2022 PMC review identified multiple human studies supporting this effect.

  • Lemongrass aroma has been shown in human studies to reduce subjective tension and state anxiety, supporting a calming effect. The 2025 RCT found LGEO inhalation produced favorable hemodynamic changes consistent with relaxation during a stressful procedure. Animal studies confirm sedative and anxiolytic properties of C. citratus extracts.

  • LGEO shows consistent in vitro antifungal activity against Candida albicans and related species, attributed to citral disrupting fungal cell membranes. A 2014 study found LGEO produced large inhibition zones against C. albicans and C. tropicalis. A tissue-conditioner study confirmed anti-Candida efficacy at low MIC values. Evidence is predominantly laboratory-based with limited human clinical trials.

  • CholesterolScientific

    Animal studies show lemongrass essential oil supplementation reduces total cholesterol (TC) and raises HDL cholesterol in diabetic models. A mouse study reported cholesterol reduction after 21 days of oral lemongrass essential oil intake with no observed genotoxicity. Human clinical evidence is limited but the lipid-modifying signal is consistent across multiple preclinical models.

  • Lemongrass essential oil has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in human dermal fibroblasts and in vivo animal models. Citral inhibits pro-inflammatory biomarkers including VCAM-1, IP-10, and modulates NF-κB pathways. In vivo, topical and oral LGEO significantly inhibited chemically induced skin inflammation in rodents.

  • DandruffScientific

    Clinical evidence shows lemongrass oil, when formulated into shampoo, reduces scalp flakiness. A pilot clinical study found lemongrass shampoo reduced dandruff, and laboratory work confirms antifungal activity against Malassezia furfur, the primary pathogen associated with dandruff. Effect is present but less potent than tea tree oil in comparative evaluations.

  • A clinical pilot study showed topical LGEO was effective for pityriasis versicolor (a fungal skin disease caused by Malassezia), with mycological cure demonstrated in vivo, though less effective than ketoconazole. LGEO also demonstrated in vitro activity against dermatophytes responsible for tinea infections. A 2024 scoping review confirmed pityriasis versicolor as one of the substantiated clinical applications of LGEO.

  • Multiple RCTs demonstrate that 0.25% lemongrass oil mouthwash reduces plaque and gingivitis with similar efficacy to 0.2% chlorhexidine. A 2% lemongrass oil gel applied as local drug delivery during scaling and root planing showed comparable benefits to doxycycline for chronic periodontitis. A 2024 scoping review confirmed these as the strongest area of clinical evidence for LGEO.

  • StressScientific

    Human studies demonstrate that lemongrass aroma reduces stress markers including subjective tension and hemodynamic stress responses. Animal research confirms that C. citratus extract attenuates neurobehavioral and biochemical changes induced by psychosocial stress. Traditional use in folk medicine for nervous disorders is well documented.

  • TriglyceridesScientific

    Lemongrass extract and essential oil have repeatedly been shown to reduce triglycerides in animal diabetes and metabolic models. Studies showed significant decreases in triglyceride levels at dosages of 400–800 mg alongside reductions in glucose and insulin. The effect is corroborated across multiple independent animal studies, though human RCTs are absent.

  • Lemongrass displays a weak to moderate diuretic activity documented in both animal studies and in humans. A comprehensive 2022 review confirmed this diuretic effect in both animal and human subjects and proposed it as one mechanism contributing to the plant's antihypertensive action. Mechanisms remain incompletely characterized.

  • Lemongrass is traditionally used across Asian, African, and South American folk medicine for gastrointestinal complaints including flatulence, indigestion, and abdominal spasm. It is classified as anti-dyspeptic and antispasmodic in ethnopharmacological reviews. Scientific evidence supports gastroprotective and antispasmodic mechanisms in animal models, but human trials are lacking.

  • ArthritisTraditional

    Lemongrass is used in folk medicine for rheumatic complaints and joint pain across multiple traditions. Its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, demonstrated in preclinical studies, provide mechanistic support. C. citratus is classified as antirheumatic in pharmacological reviews. Human clinical trials for arthritis are absent.

  • C. citratus is widely used in traditional medicine for diabetes management. Animal models show hypoglycemic effects of citral, lemongrass essential oil, and aqueous extracts, with reductions in blood glucose, insulin, and triglycerides. Human clinical evidence for glycemic control is lacking; effects in rodent models are inconsistent depending on the degree of beta-cell destruction.

  • BronchitisTraditional

    Lemongrass is recorded in folk medicine as an antitussive (anti-cough) and respiratory remedy, with use for bronchitis documented in some traditional contexts. C. citratus is classified as antitussive in scientific reviews of its folk-medicine attributes. Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties provide mechanistic support but clinical trials are absent.

  • Cold & FluTraditional

    Lemongrass is used in several traditional medicine systems for cold and flu symptoms including sore throat, fever, and nasal congestion. In Singapore, C. citratus is specifically used to alleviate cold and flu symptoms and sore/itchy throats. Antimicrobial properties provide mechanistic plausibility but dedicated human clinical trials are absent.

  • DiarrheaTraditional

    Lemongrass is documented in folk medicine as an antidiarrheal agent across multiple cultures, attributed to its antispasmodic and antimicrobial properties. Scientific reviews confirm this traditional attribution, though controlled human trials are absent. Its activity against enteric pathogens in vitro lends mechanistic plausibility.

  • FeverTraditional

    Lemongrass is widely documented in traditional medicine as an antipyretic across Asia, Africa, and South America. In Tanzania, lemongrass tea is traditionally used to reduce fever. In Singapore, C. citratus is employed to alleviate cold and flu symptoms. Traditional use is documented in pharmacological reviews but human clinical antipyretic trials are absent.

  • HeadachesTraditional

    Lemongrass is documented in traditional and folk medicine for headache relief across several cultures. Scientific reviews of C. citratus list analgesic and headache-relieving properties as part of its ethnobotanical record. Mechanistic plausibility is provided by citral's anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. No human clinical trials for headache exist.

  • Liver DetoxTraditional

    Lemongrass demonstrates hepatoprotective effects in animal studies, protecting against paracetamol- and oxidative stress-induced liver damage. A Springer book chapter confirms hepatoprotective effects of C. citratus in preclinical models. Traditional use for liver and digestive system complaints is documented. No human clinical trials exist.

  • Menstrual CrampsTraditional

    Lemongrass is traditionally used across several communities as an emmenagogue and to relieve dysmenorrhea pain. A 2025 preclinical study validated this use in a rat model of primary dysmenorrhea, finding C. citratus extract inhibited COX and LOX enzymes and relaxed uterine muscle. Traditional use is widely documented; human clinical trials are absent.

  • Muscle CrampsTraditional

    Lemongrass is documented in folk medicine for muscle cramps and spasms. Its antispasmodic classification in pharmacological reviews is supported by smooth muscle relaxant activity of citral demonstrated in preclinical work. No human clinical trials for muscle cramps have been conducted.

  • Lemongrass is documented in folk medicine as an antiemetic (anti-nausea) and digestive remedy. Traditional use for nausea, indigestion, and gastrointestinal complaints is widely noted in pharmacological reviews of C. citratus. No human clinical trials specifically assessing lemongrass for nausea or vomiting have been identified.

  • UlcersTraditional

    Lemongrass essential oil has demonstrated gastroprotective and gastric ulcer healing activity in animal models. EOCC reduced ethanol-induced ulcer area by over 50% at 10 mg/kg and accelerated healing of acetic-acid-induced chronic ulcers by 34%. C. citratus and its constituent geraniol inhibit H+/K+-ATPase activity. Traditional use for gastric disorders is well documented.

  • Wound HealingTraditional

    Lemongrass has traditional use for wound healing and antiseptic applications. Preclinical studies confirm that LGEO and geraniol accelerate gastric wound healing in animal models. Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of lemongrass provide mechanistic support for topical wound healing. No human RCTs for skin wound healing have been conducted.

Body Systems

Body systems that Lemongrass may help support.

  • No body systems available.
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Lemongrass | Vitabase