Abstract: Journal of Material Sciences & Applied Engineering

Abstract:
This study aims to evaluate the chemical composition, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the essential oil of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus). The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and its chemical composition was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by two methods, DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), phenanthroline assay, the anti- inflammatory activity was estimated by the protein denaturation method. The essential oil of C, citratus has Geranial (28.93%), Neral (24.30%) and β -Myrcene (23.92%) as majority compounds. This study revealed moderate antiradical activity of C, citratus (IC50 = 163.12 % µg/ml) compared to those of reference antioxidants. While, phenanthroline activity showed a significant EC50 (7.80 ± 1.42). In addition, C, citratus has a very high anti-inflammatory activity with percentage of inhibition of 78.15% compared to Diclofenac sodium (96.42 %).