Cymbopogon citratus , commonly known as lemongrass or grass lawn , is a tropical plant of South Asia and introduced to Southeast Asia.
Cymbopogon citratus is often sold in stems. Although it can grow in warm climates, like the UK, can not stand frozen.
Video Cymbopogon citratus
Culinary used
Cymbopogon citratus is abundant in the Philippines and Indonesia where it is known as tanglad or lemongrass . The fragrant leaves are traditionally used in cooking, especially for lechon and grilled chicken.
Dry leaves can also be brewed into tea, either alone or as a seasoning in other teas, inculcating a reminiscent taste of lemon juice but with a mild sweet flavor with no significant sour taste or tartness.
Maps Cymbopogon citratus
Medical use
Cymbopogon citratus leaf has been used in traditional medicine and is often found in herbal and tea supplements.
In Brazilian folk medicine, it is believed to have anxiolytic, hypnotic, and anticonvulsant properties.
In traditional Indian medicine the leaves of the plant are used as stimulants, sudorifik, antiperiodik, and anticatarrhal, while essential oils are used as anti-rust, anti-depressant, analgesic, antipyretic, antibacterial, and antifungal agents.
Laboratory studies have demonstrated the properties of cytoprotective, antioxidant, and in vitro anti-inflammatory, as well as antifungal properties (although Cymbopogon martinii was found to be more effective in the study).
Citronellol is an essential oil constituent of Cymbopogon citratus , Cymbopogon winterianus , and Lippia alba . Citronellol has been shown to lower blood pressure in mice with a direct effect on vascular smooth muscle leading to vasodilation. In small, randomized, controlled trials, infusions made from C. citratus are used as inexpensive drugs for the treatment of oral canker sores in HIV/AIDS patients.
Lemon grass oil contains 65-85% citral besides myrcene, citronella, citronellol, and geraniol. Distillation, condensation, and cooling hydrosteam can be used to separate oil from water. Hidrosol, as a by-product of the distillation process, is used for the production of skin care products such as lotions, creams, and facial cleansers. The main ingredients in this product are lemongrass oil and "negros oil" (a mixture of lemongrass oil with virgin coconut oil) used in aromatherapy.
Pharmacology
One low-dose study found no effect of essential oils on Cymbopogon citratus in humans. However, further research has shown that plant essential oils increase GABA-ergic neurotransmission at sufficient doses (with anxiolytic dose threshold of 10 mg/kg) through positive allosteric agonists in the same way as benzodiazepines (ex diazepam) are used clinically. as anxiolytics, tranquilizers/hypnotics, muscle relaxants, and anticonvulsants. Despite the observed pharmacological activity, the average adult male will need 600-800 mg of pure essential oil to achieve clinically significant anxiety reduction. Most commercial supplements contain doses well below the threshold dose indicating that most lemongrass supplements provide their anxiolytic benefits primarily or entirely through induction of placebo effects. Since essential oils are demonstrated to act synergistically with other GABA-ergics (even in sub-therapeutic doses) and possibly also potentiate anxiolytics of other mechanisms (as predicted by the benzodiazepine mechanism), the possibility of pharmacologically induced anxiolysis can not be eliminated. when a formulation containing a sub-therapeutic lemonade dose also contains other anxiolytic/chemical herbs.
Effects on insects
Beekeepers sometimes use lemongrass oil in swarm traps to attract flocks. Lemon grass oil has also been tested for its ability to repel the attacking stable flies, which bite domestic livestock.
See also
- GABA A receptor
- GABA A positive allosteric receptor agonist
References
External links
- Cymbopogon citratus List of Chemicals (Dr. Duke's)
- Cymbopogon citratus from the Biodiversity Heritage Library
- 'Citronella - anticeptic and anti-inflammatory' in Vietnamese botanical life
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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