Citronella

Introduction

When it comes to lemongrass, most people immediately refer to the fragrance of the same name used in many anti-mosquito products; in fact, the essential oil extracted from the citronella plant is rich in geraniol and citronellol, monoterpenic alcohols with known repellent properties.

The essence of citronella is particularly appreciated by natural cosmetics, in order to make the fragrance of countless cosmetic products more pleasant. But the uses of this fragrant plant do not stop only at the cosmetic sphere: few, for example, know its bizarre culinary use as the aroma of sauces, soups and herbal teas.

Botanical description

The citronella plants ( Cymbopogon nardus or Andropogon nardus ) belong to the Graminaceae family: we are analyzing perennial evergreen grasses, typical of areas with tropical or warm-temperate climate, comparable structurally to sorghum. Showing a typically bushy habit, the lemongrass does not generally exceed the meter in height; the leaves, with a paper consistency, are ribbon-shaped, 60-70 centimeters long, and feature a beautiful bright green, sometimes tinged with blue. [taken from wikipedia]

The leaves are supported by erect and rigid stems, comparable, in some ways, to the bamboo; the characteristic that distinguishes the citronella leaves is the intense fragrance emanating in the environment, with a sweet and citrusy note.

Chemical composition

The citronella plant gives the same name to the essence obtained; precisely, the essential oil of citronella can be extracted from two different species, the Java citronella (or Cymbopogon winterianus ) and the Ceylon citronella ( Cymbopogon nardus ), plants with arboreal-bushy habit belonging to the Graminaceae family.

1. Java citronella

It is a typical plant of China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Colombia and Brazil, cultivated for the citronella oil of the same name. It consists of a substantial amount of citronellol.

2. lemongrass of Ceylon

It is cultivated mostly in Sri Lanka and is equally exploited for its essential oil.

In terms of molecular chemical composition, the two varieties do not differ much from each other; the essential oil - obtained by steam distillation - consists of a good part of geraniol (variable from 15 to 20%), from borneol (max 8%), citronellal (5-15%), citronellol (max 10 %), natural and methyl-eugenol. [composition of the essential oil from the reasoned dictionary of herbal medicine and phytotherapy, by A. Bruni, M. Nicoletti]

The essence of citronella is partly also found in basil and geranium.

Loans

We have seen that the use of citronella is focused on the use of the essential oil for the formulation of repellent products (candles, ointments, body sprays, etc.); however, given its extremely intense and penetrating essence, lemongrass is also highly appreciated in perfumery and in the food industry for flavoring sauces, soups and herbal teas.

Property

There are numerous medicinal virtues ascribed to the essential oil of citronella: antiseptic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, vermifuge, astringent, analgesic and decongestant. In the CNS, lemongrass produces a calming and balancing effect. Furthermore, it seems that lemongrass is a natural remedy to fight against aerophagia and stomach swelling.

Citronella is probably also useful for balancing the menstrual cycle.

Hypothetical antitumor activity

Recently, Israeli researchers have observed that a species belonging to the genus Cymbopogon is able to destroy tumor cells: the citral contained in the essence of citronella induces apoptosis of harmful cells. However, only in vitro studies have been performed, so it has not yet been shown that citronella can actually forge the title of "anticancer plant".

Summary

Lemongrass: TO FIX THE CONCEPTS

Citronella	Repellent substance par excellence Cosmetics → makes the perfume of products more pleasant Cooking → aroma of sauces, soups and herbal teas
Citronella: brief botanical description	Botanical name: Cymbopogon nardus or Andropogon nardus Family: Graminaceae Description of the plant: perennial evergreen herbs typical of areas with tropical or warm-temperate climate Portamento: bushy Height: 1 meter Leaves: paper consistency, ribbon-like, 60-70 centimeters long, bright green color, sometimes shaded with blue Stems: erect and rigid, bamboo-like
Citronella: distinctive feature	Intense fragrance emanating in the environment, with a sweet and citrusy note
Lemongrass: variety	Java Citronella → typical plant of China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Colombia and Brazil. Consistent amounts of citronellol Lemongrass of Ceylon → Sri Lanka. Exploited for its essential oil
Citronella: essential oil and chemical composition	Geraniol (variable from 15 to 20%) Borneolo (max 8%) Citronellal (5-15%) Citronellol (max 10%) neral Methyl eugenol
Citronella essential oil: uses	Mainly → for the production of repellent products Perfumery → perfumes Cooking → herbal teas, soups
Citronella essential oil: properties	Antiseptic antidepressant Anti-inflammatory Diuretic vermifuge Astringent analgesic Decongestant Calming Rebalancing of the CNS Natural remedy to combat aerophagia and stomach swelling Balance the menstrual cycle
Citronella essential oil and possible antitumor activity	Citral in the essence of citronella: induces tumor cells to apoptosis → IN VITRO STUDIES → the theory is not yet scientifically confirmed