LEMONGRASS OIL
| Botanical Name | Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Steud.),W. Watson |
| Synonyms | - |
| Family | Gramineae |
| Local Name | Lemongrass |
| English Name | Lemongrass |
Plant Description
Lemongrass is cultivated in East and Central Nepal at the altitude of 200m-1100m. It is a perennial aromatic herb reaching up to 1.5m in height. It has an extensive and well-developed root system and new plant arises from the robust roots. Leaves are linear and lanceolate. Flowering occurs in October and fruits in January-March. Propagation by roots, seeds, and slips.
Extraction
Lemongrass oil is extracted by the steam distillation of the fresh or partly dried leaves of Cymbopogon flexuosus.
Uses
The essential oil is used as fragrance components to soaps, cream, lotion, perfume etc. It is also used to flavour alcoholic drinks. The oil is used as analgesic, antidepressant, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antipyretic, antiseptic, astringent, carminative etc. The oil is used as skin care, digestive system, respiratory system, immune system,nervous system in aromatherapy.
Organoleptic Properties
| Appearance: | Fluid liquid |
| Colour: | Deep Yellow to Orange Brown |
| Aroma: | Fresh grassy lemon type |
Active Constituents
Citral-a and Citral-b constitute 75-85% of Lemongrass oil. Other constituents include terpinene, α-pellandrene, α -terpinene, γ -terpinene, myrcene, triphenyl acetate, geranyl acetate, borneol, dipentene, methyl heptenone, linalool, geraniol, nerol, citronellol, and farnesol.
Physico-Chemical Properties
| Specific gravity | 0.8725 to 0.8965 at 25°C?> |
| Optical rotation | [-]1.25° to [-]so at 25° C?> |
| Refractive index | 1.4850 to 1.4936 at 25° C?> |
| Acid number | 2 to 10 |
| Ester number | 15 to 40 |
| Ester number | 220 to 260 (after acetylation) (after acetylation) |
| Solubility | Soluble in 0.5 to 1.5 vol. of 80%alcohol |