* Please Note: This information is based partly on Traditional Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Description
Lemongrass Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf.
Other Names: Verveine des Jades (French); Lemongras, Zitronengras (German); citronella (Italian); sontol (Spanish).
Description: A perennial tuft with sturdy stems and rather broad, aromatic leaves. The species grown commercially for oil distillation are mostly distinguished by their characteristic smell and chemical composition of the oil. In addition to C. citratus, the main ones are C. nardus (Ceylon citronella grass, the source of citronella oil), C. martinii (ginger grass, palma-rosa, rusha) and C. winterianus Qava citronella oil).
Origin: Unknown (thought to have originated in southern India and Sri Lanka). It is now grown as a crop plant in many parts of the world. C. nardus occurs naturally in tropical Asia, C. martinii originated in India but is cultivated in Malaysia and C. winterianus is a cultigen of unknown origin grown commercially in India and Indonesia.
Parts Used: Dried aboveground parts (Cymbopogonis citrati herba) or the essential oil (Cymbopogonis citrati aetheroleum).
Therapeutic Category: Weak sedative, stomachic.
Uses and Properties: The leaves and essential oil are used to treat dyspeptic disorders, colds, nervous conditions and exhaustion. Some massage oils and aromatherapy oils contain lemongrass oil.
Active Ingredients: Lemongrass oil contains large amounts of citral (geranial, neral) and numerous other monoterpenoids. Citronella oil has geraniol, citrone and citronellal as main ingredients.
Pharmacological Effetcs: Lipophilic monoterpenes interact with biomembranes of cells and can modulate the activity of membrane proteins, especially ion channels and receptors. These properties might explain the antimicrobial, sedative, spasmolytic and carminative effects of the oil. Oils containing high levels of citronellal are used in insect repellents.
Notes: Lemongrass is an important ingredient in Oriental cooking. The oils of Cymbopogon species are mair used in the perfume industry and have limited medicinal applications.
Status: Traditional medicine; Pharm.
Preparation and Dosage: Leaf infusions or diluted oil may be taken orally; oil is also applied topically.
User Group Forum
Share your questions and information with the ZooScape community!
Judy - May 3, 2007, 17:21
#10001121
Do you have information regarding the research conducted at the University of Ben Gurion of the Negev [southern Israel]? The article was published in Planta Medical stating the herb citral found in Lemongrass kills cancer cells.
ZooScape Moderator - July 16, 2007, 18:33
#10001485
The results of this study are found in only sketchy details within online publications. It did receive a great deal of publicity in Israel, at BGU in Negev, and the results were published in Planta Medica (as you stated), a journal of alternative and herbal research findings. Here's a brief synopsis of the findings:
Citral is not an 'herb' but actually an aromatic aldehyde found in lemongrass, lemon verbena, and lemon balm. The research concluded that, in vitro, this aromatic compound (lemongrass citral) would cause cancer cells to "kill themselves" while healthy cells were left unharmed. Researchers referred to the suicidal phenomenom of the cancer cells as apoptosis, or a programmed cell death. They concluded that 1 gram of herbs in hot water would be the equal to the quantity of citral in the petri dish concentrate used in the research.
With the BGU findings promoted by the Israeli press, many doctors, though cautiosuly optimistic and requiring further research to be absolutely convinced, have recommended that cancer patients take advantage of the potentially anti-cancer effects of the lemony herb.
Directions
Take 1 capsule, 3 times daily, with meals.
Cautions
Much diluted lemongrass oil and citronella oil are flavourants of food or drinks. In their pure form however, they may be toxic or even lethal if taken orally in large amounts.
Additional Information
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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
