What Is Lemongrass? Other Names: Abafado, Andropogon Flexuosus, Cymbopogon Citratus

What is Lemongrass?

This post was written with Consensus AI Academic Search Engine – please read our Disclaimer at the end of this article. Lemongrass, scientifically known as Cymbopogon citratus, is a fragrant grass widely recognized for its essential oil, which is rich in citral and has numerous applications in medicine, cosmetics, and culinary arts7. It is a staple in traditional folk medicine and is used for its potential health benefits and aromatic properties2. Other names include: Abafado, Andropogon citratus, Andropogon flexuosus, British Indian Lemongrass, Cana Santa, Capim-Cidrao, Capim-Santo, Ceylon Citronella Grass, Cimbopogone, Citronella, Citrongräss, Citronnelle, Citronnelle de Ceylan, Citronnelle des Indes, Citronnelle de Java, Citronnelle de Madagascar, Cochin Lemongrass, Cymbopogon citratus, Cymbopogon flexuosus, Cymbopogon nardis, East Indian Lemongrass, Fever Grass, Grass Tea, Guatemala Lemongrass, Herbe Citron, Hierba de Limón, Jonc Odorant, Lemon Grass, Lemon Grass Stalk, Limonaria, Limon Out, Madagascar Lemongrass, Sakumau, Sera, Sereh, Squinant, Ta-Khraj, Tej-Sar, Verveine Indienne, West Indian Lemongrass, Zacate Limon.

Uses and Benefits of Lemongrass

Lemongrass is commonly used in herbal teas and as an essential oil. It is believed to have various health benefits, including cholesterol reduction and antioxidant properties. Studies have shown that lemongrass essential oil can reduce blood cholesterol levels without causing genotoxic or toxic effects in mice, indicating its safety for consumption2. Additionally, lemongrass tea has been found to boost erythropoiesis, potentially aiding in the prevention and treatment of anemia6.

Pharmacological Properties

Despite its widespread use in traditional medicine, scientific studies have shown that lemongrass does not possess significant hypnotic or anxiolytic properties. In a study involving human volunteers, lemongrass tea did not affect sleep induction or anxiety levels compared to a placebo1. However, the aroma of lemongrass essential oil has shown some perceived anxiolytic effects in humans, suggesting potential benefits in reducing anxiety4.

Industrial and Agricultural Applications

Lemongrass is also valued for its industrial applications. Its essential oil is used to enhance the fermentative profile and stability of sugarcane silage, improving its chemical composition and reducing fermentative losses5. Furthermore, lemongrass has been studied for its antimicrobial properties, showing effectiveness as an adjunct treatment in managing chronic periodontitis3.

Antioxidant and Protective Effects

Lemongrass contains bioactive components such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins, which contribute to its antioxidant activity. Microencapsulation of lemongrass extract has been shown to enhance its stability and antioxidant properties, making it a potential natural preservative10. Additionally, lemongrass has demonstrated protective effects against reproductive toxicity in animal models, likely due to its antioxidant and phenolic content9.

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Adverse Effects of Lemongrass

Adverse Effects on Renal Function

Renal Function Decline: Consumption of lemongrass tea can lead to a significant decrease in creatinine clearance rate (CCr) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), especially at higher doses or with prolonged use. This suggests potential adverse effects on kidney function, as indicated by increased serum and urinary creatinine levels and serum urea1.

Adverse Effects on Lung Health

Lung Histology Changes: High doses of ethanolic leaf extract of lemongrass have been shown to cause mild to moderate congestion of blood vessels and inflammatory cells around the bronchioles in rats, indicating potential harm to lung tissue4.

General Safety and Toxicity

General Toxicity: Studies on lemongrass essential oil in mice have shown no significant toxic effects on organ weights, histology, or clinical biochemistry at doses typically used in folk medicine2. Similarly, human studies have not shown significant toxic effects with typical use, although slight elevations in direct bilirubin and amylase were noted without clinical symptoms3.

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How has Lemongrass Improved Patient Outcomes?

Dental Health

Lemongrass has been effectively used as an adjunct treatment for chronic periodontitis. Studies have demonstrated that a 2% lemongrass gel, when used alongside scaling and root planing, significantly reduces gingival inflammation, probing pocket depth, and clinical attachment loss, comparable to the effects of a 10% doxycycline gel1 2. Additionally, a 0.25% lemongrass oil mouthwash has shown significant antiplaque and antigingivitis effects, making it a viable natural alternative to chlorhexidine mouthwash for patients with gingivitis undergoing orthodontic treatment6.

Anxiety Reduction

Lemongrass aroma has been found to have anxiolytic effects. Inhalation of lemongrass essential oil reduced state anxiety and subjective tension in individuals exposed to an anxiety-inducing situation, with effects comparable to those of diazepam3. However, another study found no significant anxiolytic effects when lemongrass was consumed as a tea, suggesting that the method of administration may influence its effectiveness8.

Hematologic Health

Lemongrass tea has been shown to boost erythropoiesis, potentially aiding in the prevention and treatment of anemia. Consumption of lemongrass tea significantly increased hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, and red blood cell count in human volunteers, likely due to its nutritional constituents and antioxidant properties4 5.

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Lemongrass Mechanisms of Action

Antimicrobial Action

Lemongrass essential oil has demonstrated antimicrobial properties, particularly against oral microorganisms. A study comparing 2% lemongrass gel with 10% doxycycline hyclate gel found that lemongrass was effective in reducing periodontal pathogens and improving clinical indices in chronic periodontitis treatment3.

Antioxidant and Anticarcinogenic Effects

Lemongrass essential oil has shown protective effects against DNA damage and potential anticarcinogenic activity. In a study with female Balb/C mice, lemongrass essential oil reduced leukocyte DNA damage induced by carcinogens and showed a slight reduction in mammary hyperplasia, indicating its protective and anticarcinogenic potential4.

Effects on Fermentation and Stability

In agricultural applications, lemongrass oil has been used to manipulate microbial growth during silage fermentation. It was found to decrease mold and yeast counts, improve aerobic stability, and enhance the chemical composition of sugarcane silage, indicating its role in improving fermentation processes2.

Lack of CNS Effects

Despite its traditional use for CNS-depressant effects, lemongrass did not exhibit hypnotic or anxiolytic properties in human studies. Volunteers showed no significant changes in sleep or anxiety levels when consuming lemongrass compared to a placebo, suggesting that its CNS effects may be limited or non-existent1.

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Common Complaints Associated with Lemongrass Use

Lack of Toxicity: Studies have shown that lemongrass does not produce significant toxic effects in humans or mice. In humans, no changes were observed in various health markers such as serum glucose, cholesterol, and liver enzymes after lemongrass consumption1. Similarly, in mice, no significant changes in organ health or clinical biochemistry were noted after repeated intake of lemongrass essential oil2.

Mild Biochemical Changes: Some human subjects experienced slight elevations in direct bilirubin and amylase levels, although these did not lead to any clinical symptoms1.

No Hypnotic or Anxiolytic Effects: Despite its traditional use for calming effects, lemongrass did not demonstrate hypnotic or anxiolytic properties in controlled studies. Parameters such as sleep quality and anxiety levels remained unchanged compared to a placebo1.

Cholesterol Reduction: In mice, lemongrass essential oil was associated with a reduction in blood cholesterol levels, suggesting a potential beneficial effect2.

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Disclaimer

The content presented in this blog is generated by Consensus, an AI-powered academic search engine, and is based on publicly available scientific literature. While every effort is made to provide accurate, up-to-date, and well-researched information, the content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medical conditions, treatments, or medications. The AI system’s analysis may not cover all perspectives, emerging research, or individual cases, and it is not a substitute for professional expertise. Neither the blog publisher nor the developers of the AI-powered search engine are responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided in this content. Use of this information is at your own risk. Citations to the original scientific studies are included for reference, but these studies should be reviewed in full and interpreted with the guidance of a healthcare or research professional.

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