CYMBOPOGON CITRATUS

Reproductive health disorders are increasingly prevalent due to environmental and dietary factors, necessitating investigation into natural therapeutic alternatives. This study aimed to examine the histopathological effects of Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) leaf extract on the reproductive organs of albino rats. Twenty-four healthy albino rats weighing 180-200g were divided into four groups: Group A (control, n=2) received pellets and distilled water; Groups B, C, and D (n=4 each) were administered 250mg/kg, 500mg/kg, and 1000mg/kg of Cymbopogon citratus leaf extract respectively via oral gavage for one month. After treatment, animals were euthanized, blood samples collected for hormonal analysis using ELISA kits, and reproductive organs harvested for histopathological examination using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results revealed normal ovarian histomorphology across all groups, with follicles containing oocytes surrounded by theca and granulosa cells at different maturation stages. Most testicular sections showed normal seminiferous tubules with Sertoli cells and sperm cells at various maturation stages. However, Group C1 exhibited testicular atrophy characterized by shrunken seminiferous tubules with thickened basement membranes and reduced germ cell populations. Significant hormonal changes were observed in Group B, showing significant differences in both testosterone and progesterone levels compared to controls (p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in organ weights or full blood count parameters across all groups. The findings suggest that Cymbopogon citratus leaf extract exhibits dose-dependent effects on reproductive tissues, with moderate doses potentially causing testicular atrophy and hormonal alterations. While the extract demonstrated minimal effects at low and high doses, the intermediate dose showed adverse effects, highlighting the importance of dosage optimization in herbal medicine applications for reproductive health

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a growing global health threat, necessitating the development of alternative therapeutic agents. Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass), a perennial herb rich in bioactive compounds such as citral, geraniol, and flavonoids, has demonstrated significant antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigates the antimicrobial efficacy of soap formulated with Cymbopogon citratus extract obtained via n- hexane solvent extraction. Fresh Cymbopogon citratus leaves were collected from Obagie community, Edo State, Nigeria, shade-dried, and pulverized. A total of 500 g of powdered leaves was macerated in 2.5 L of analytical-grade n-hexane for seven days at room temperature. The extract was filtered and concentrated using a rotary evaporator at 40 °C. Phytochemical screening of the n-hexane extract confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds. Soap was prepared via cold saponification method using palm and coconut oils. Antimicrobial assays were conducted on the extract and soap using concentrations of 100 mg/ml, 200 mg/ml, and 400 mg/ml against bacterial and fungal strains. The n-hexane extract showed the highest zones of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (28 mm) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (26 mm) at 400 mg/ml. The formulated soap demonstrated notable activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20 mm), Klebsiella pneumoniae (17.5 mm), and Penicillium spp. (22.5 mm) These findings support the potential of Cymbopogon citratus-based soap as a natural, safe, and effective topical antimicrobial agent, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Cymbopogon citratus is a widely used medicinal and culinary herb known to contain a variety of vitamins and bioactive compounds. Solvent-based extraction plays a crucial role in determining the yield and profile of these nutrients, particularly vitamins, which differ in polarity and solubility. This study aimed to compare the vitamin composition of polar (ethanol) and non-polar (diethyl ether) extracts of C. citratus to determine which solvent more effectively recovers specific vitamins. Extraction was carried out using standard maceration techniques with ethanol and diethyl ether as solvents. Vitamin analysis was conducted spectrophotometrically, and data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Relevant literature was sourced from peerreviewed journals indexed in scientific databases and pla forms such as PubMed, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, and ScienceGate. The results showed that the polar extract contained
significantly higher levels of vitamin A (51.02 ± 0.004 ppm), vitamin B6 (2.533 ± 0.010 ppm), and vitamin D (55.89 ± 0.020 ppm). In contrast, the non-polar extract yielded significantly higher concentrations of vitamin B12 (2.957 ± 0.155 ppm), vitamin C (59.71 ± 0.035 ppm), vitamin E (36.07 ± 0.2335 ppm), vitamin K (19.90 ± 0.2137 ppm), and benzoic acid (6.124 ± 0.027 ppm), all with p-values < 0.05. In conclusion, the choice of solvent significantly affects the recovery of vitamins from C. citratus. Ethanol is more suitable for extracting water-soluble or moderately polar vitamins, while diethyl ether is better for highly lipophilic compounds. It is recommended that future research include in vivo investigations to evaluate the biological relevance, bioavailability, and therapeutic potential of the extracted vitamins, building upon the in vitro findings of this study.

Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) is an aromatic and medicinal grass widely used in food, cosmetics, and traditional medicine for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. These activities are linked to its diverse phytochemicals, including essential oils, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. Although the plant has been extensively studied, limited comparative data exists on how solvent polarity influences the extraction of its nutritional and bioactive constituents. This study therefore evaluated the proximate composition, phytochemical distribution, and phenolic profile of C. citratus using ethanol (polar) and diethyl ether (non-polar) as extraction solvents. Laboratory analyses employed various methods, including gravimetric techniques for proximate and phytochemical composition, spectrophotometric and acid titration methods for phytochemical determination, and GC-FID for detailed phenolic profiling. Fresh samples collected from the University of Benin were authenticated and subjected to standardized proximate and phytochemical analyses, supported by current literatures from PubMed, ScienceDirect, MDPI, and Google Scholar. Extraction yield was slightly higher with diethyl ether (1.72%) than with ethanol (1.56%), reflecting the solvent’s efficiency in dissolving non-polar constituents. Proximate analysis revealed high carbohydrate content (71.820%) and crude fibre content (3.225%), moderate crude protein (6.133%), ash content (2.117%), and moisture content (16.720%), and very low-fat content (1.552%). Antinutritional factors such as oxalates, phytates, and cyanogenic glycosides were found only in trace amounts, confirming nutritional safety. Phytochemical screening detected alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, and phenolics in both extracts. Phenolic profiling showed diethyl ether enriched non-polar compounds including catechol (21.776ppm), hydroxyquinol (54.471ppm), and resorcinol (13.932ppm), while ethanol favored polar phenolics such as quinol (25.975ppm) and cinnamic acid (21.163ppm).

Background and objective:
Herbosomes can be defined as modified liposomes that encapsulate botanical extracts and enhance their stability, bioavailability and helps targeted administration in herbal medicine. This study aims to evaluate various properties of Cymbopogon citratus extract herbosomal cream and complex Cymbopogon citratus extract into a herbosome and incorporate into cream.
Methodology: In this study Ethanolic extraction of Cymbopogon citratus was carried out using a maceration method. The resultant dried extract were then complex into herbosomes of ratios 1:1, 1:2, 2:1 using soy lecithin obtained from. Each of these herbosome complexes were then incorporated into a Non-ionic oil in water cream base (SQ1-SQ3) respectively along with creams containing Lecithin, Plain Cymbopogon citratus extract and Vitamin E (SQ4-SQ6) respectively. The creams were then weighed and put into their respectively labeled jars. Different tests were then carried out on the formulated creams such as evaluation of physiochemical properties( Viscosity, pH, Spreadability, Homogeneity, Freeze and thaw tests),Evaluation of Antioxidant activity using DPPH radical scavenging test, Evaluation of Antibacterial activity, and biological and safety tests (Ex-vivo studies and Irritancy test).
Results:Creams SQ1-SQ6 showed Viscosity ranges from 26.17 to 36.70, pH ranges from 4.4 to 4.8, Spreadability ranges from 6.03 to 9.65, Homogeneity properties along with the freeze and thaw test were carried out and the cream was seen to be smooth with no coarse particles and, with no physical changes seen after the freeze and thaw test. These creams were seen to have Antioxidant properties with SQ1 showing the highest Antioxidant activity of 56.81%, However, there was no Antibacterial activity seen for the Cymbopogon citratus herbosomal creams . For the Ex-vivo studies it was seen that complexing Cymbopogon citratus extract into a Herbosome enhanced the permeability of the Cream across the skin membrane of a Sprague-Dawley rat with SQ3 showing a Percentage release of 61.7% after 3 hours. No irritancy was observed with use of the creams.
Conclusion: Cymbopogon citratus herbosomal cream exhibited good Physiochemical and Antioxidant Properties. Complexation of Cymbopogon citratus in a herbosome enhanced its lipid permeability