Therapeutic Benefi Ts of Lemongrass and Tea Tree: Nida Tabassum Khan
Therapeutic Benefi Ts of Lemongrass and Tea Tree: Nida Tabassum Khan
Therapeutic Benefi Ts of Lemongrass and Tea Tree: Nida Tabassum Khan
DOI: 10.29328/journal.acee.1001022
Lemongrass is a culinary herb with a lemony aroma.it is mostly cultivated in Southeast Asia,
Copyright: © 2020 Khan NT. This is an open
Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India. It is conventionally used for relieving anxiety, stress and pain.
access article distributed under the Creative
Because of the presence of limonene and citral, lemongrass extracts exhibits antimicrobial,
Commons Attribution License, which permits
antidandruff and anti-inflammatory effects. However Tea tree extracts are mostly employed in the
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction
treatment of dermal, inflammatory and microbial infections.
in any medium, provided the original work is
properly cited.
Bioactive constituents
• Anticancer properties: Presence of bioactive citral in
Lemongrass is an enriched source of iber, carbohydrates, Lemongrass helps ight cancer either by apoptosis or
Vitamin A, B and C that strengthens body immune system, boosting immune system [12].
repairs tissue damage and promotes cell division respectively
[3,4], magnesium that is required for protein synthesis, • Promotes healthy digestion: Lemongrass tea is
glycolysis and muscle activity [5], selenium for cognitive reported to treat stomach discomforts, indigestion and
function and fertility [6], phosphorus for DNA/RNA and cell gastric ulcers by protecting stomach lining [13].
membrane synthesis [7], zinc required for wound healing,
• Reduce high cholesterol: Lemongrass extract assisted
normal growth and development [8].
in lowering high cholesterol levels in humans [14].
Health benefits of lemongrass Treats obesity: Lemongrass tea helps in losing excess
of weight in obese patients [15].
Lemongrass offers numerous health bene its which are as
follows: • Skin treatment: Research indicated that lemongrass
essential oil is used as a therapeutic agent for the
• Antioxidant properties: Lemongrass possess
treatment of in lammatory skin conditions [16].
numerous antioxidants such as isoorientin, chlorogenic
acid and swertiajaponin which aids in hunting free • Repellent: Lemongrass extract is used in the
radicals that may cause disease [9]. Antimicrobial preparation of insect repellents due to the presence of
properties: Lemongrass extracts exhibits antimicrobial compounds citral and geraniol [17].
potency against Streptococcus mutans and thus used to
prevent tooth decay [10]. • Controls dandruff: Lemongrass oil is used in hair
tonics to reduce dandruff through its antimicrobial
• Antiinϐlammatory properties: Antiin lammatory and anti-in lammatory properties [18]. It also inhibits
property of Lemongrass is attributed to the presence the growth of fungi M. furfur that is associated with
of compounds citral and geranial which helps in
dandruff [19].
preventing the release of certain in lammation-causing
markers in our body [11]. • Prevents anemia: Research reported that since
• Treats oral issues: Lemongrass extracts help ight 2. Buckle J. Clinical aromatherapy and touch: complementary therapies
in lammation of gums and cavities [21]. for nursing practice. Critical care nurse. 1998; 18: 54.
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Side effects of lemongrass
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Lemongrass is usually considered safe to use in cooking citratus) in health and disease. Int J Pharmaceut Biol Arc. 2012; 3:
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effects such as tiredness, dry mouth, dizziness, increased 4. Abbas SM, El-Saeid HM. Effects of some growth regulators on oil yield,
appetite, frequent urination, allergic reactions such as itching growth and hormonal content of lemon grass (Cymbopogon citrates).
and rash [22,23]. Moreover avoid its use during pregnancy Botanica Serbica 2012; 36: 97-101.
since it starts menstrual low [24]. 5. Prasad A, Kumar D, Singh DV. Effect of soil sodicity on the growth and
cation composition of palmarosa and lemongrass. Journal of herbs,
Tea tree is native to Queensland and New South spices & medicinal plants. 1998; 5: 51-60.
Wales, Australia and is botanically known as Melaleuca
6. Alsogayer AA. Organic Selenium, Probiotics, and Prebiotics Effects on
alternifolia [25]. Tea tree oil has been used as a conventional
Growth, Blood Biochemistry, and Carcass Traits of Growing Rabbits
medicine by Aborigines and Australians for treating common During Summer and Winter Seasons. Springer. 2018.
cold and cough [26]. Tea tree extract contains terpinen-4-ol,
which is an antimicrobial agent and enhances white blood 7. Singh M, Nagar N, Upadhyay Ak, Chandel BS. Effect of potassium and
zinc on yield, mineral composition and quality of lemon grass under
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Health benefits of tea tree extracts 8. Ranjah MA. Lemongrass: a useful ingredient for functional foods.
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Tea tree offers numerous health bene its which are as
follows: 9. Balakrishnan B, Paramasivam S, Arulkumar A. Evaluation of the
lemongrass plant (Cymbopogon citratus) extracted in different solvents
Antiseptic: Tea tree extract is used in the preparation for antioxidant and antibacterial activity against human pathogens.
of hand sanitizer and cleansers since it is effective against Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease. 2014; 4: S134-S139.
infection causing bacteria and viruses including E. coli, S. 10. Moore-Neibel K, Gerber C, Patel J, Friedman M, Ravishankar, S.
pneumoniae and H. inϔluenzae [28]. Antimicrobial activity of lemongrass oil against Salmonella enterica on
organic leafy greens. J Appl Microbiol. 2012; 112: 485-492.
Repellent: Tea tree extract has the property to repel PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22188296/
insects such as mosquitoes, bees, wasps, ants etc making it 11. Olorunnisola SK, Hammed AM, Simsek S. Biological properties of
suitable to be used as a repellent [29]. lemongrass: An overview. International Food Research Journal. 2012;
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Antifungal/Antibacterial: Tea tree oil is used in the
treatment of fungal nail infection (onychomycosis), and 12. Ghosh K. \Anticancer effect of lemongrass oil and citral on cervical
cancer cell lines. Pharmacognosy Communications. 2013; 3: 41.
bacterial acne [30]. In addition it also aids in relieving in lamed
skin such as contact dermatitis [31]. 13. Skaria BP, Joy PP, Mathew S, Mathew G. Lemongrass. In Handbook
of herbs and spices. Woodhead Publishing. 2006; 400-419.
Treats dermal infections: Tea tree oil helps in the
treatment of dry skin by reducing itching, eczema, combat oily 14. Elson CE, Underbakke GL, Hanson P, Shrago E, Wainberg RH, et al.
Impact of lemongrass oil, an essential oil, on serum cholesterol. Lipids.
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PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2586227
Anti-inϐlammatory: Tea tree extract reduces in lammation
due to high content of terpinen-4-ol, it soothe and relieve 15. Schreuder M. U.S. Patent Application No. 13/533,684. 2013.
painful irritated skin [33].
16. Silva CD. BD, Guterres SS, Weisheimer V, Schapoval EE. Antifungal
activity of the lemongrass oil and citral against Candida Braz J Infect
Wound treatment: The antibacterial activity of tea tree
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PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11131302 herbs used in anti-dandruff shampoo and its evaluation parameters.