Power of lemongrass essential oil in healing skin inflammation, study reveals

21 Feb 2023 --- Long revered by folk medicine for its treatment of inflammatory conditions, lemongrass oil, scientifically known as Cymbopogon citratus, has received a modern validation through a collaborative study published in cosmetics 2023 journal.

The study investigated the proposed anti-inflammatory properties of C. citratus essential oil (EOCC) in human skin in vivo using the methylnicotinate (MN) microinflammation skin model.

Results revealed a protective effect at the EOCC-treated spot. The MN reaction showed significantly lower transepidermal water loss, blood perfusion, erythema and edema.

The researchers identified benefits for human skin in the areas of epidermal hydration, barrier integrity and skin biomechanical properties.

Epidermal triggers averted
Fourteen participants – nine women and five men – were selected. Three samples were taken from both forearms. One randomly chosen area was treated for 14 days, twice a day, with a polyacrylic acid gel containing 5% EOCC.

The remaining areas were used as controls. Skin exposure to MN causes a disturbance that triggers the production of reactive oxygen species and evokes a short-duration micro-inflammatory reaction that was explored for the study’s objective.

Aromatic essential oil extracts from C. citratus leaves are used in fragrances, flavors, perfumery, cosmetics, detergents and medicines in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

These essential oils contain a complex mixture of hydrophobic and volatile compounds, normally monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, with a pleasant smell justifying their organoleptic applications. The chemical and pharmaceutical industries use aromatic essential oil extracts from C. citratus leaves.

The procedures adhered to clinical practice stated in the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed written consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study, and the Lusofona University Ethics Commission previously approved the experimental protocol.

The biological activity of essential oils is being progressively documented, following their classification as herbal medicines by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), mainly based on their traditional use as herbal medicinal products.

Tropical and subtropical regions
Lemongrass is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The main component of C. citratus oil is the monoterpene citral, which gives it the characteristic citrus aroma.

Other components can also be isolated in lower concentrations from this essential oil, such as nerol, geraniol, citronellal, terpinolene, geranyl acetate, myrecene and terpinol methylheptenone.

Previous studies have shown that the essential oil significantly reduces the inflammatory process in oral and topical administrations.

The present study aimed to develop an experimental human model designed to test and evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of a formulation containing EOCC in the human skin using methyl nicotinate as a challenge agent.

The essential oil obtained from Cymbopogon citratus aerial components was obtained from a Portuguese supplier, the Cantinho das Aromáticas Viveiros.

Scientific collaboration
This methodology proposes several clinical outcomes that contribute to evidence of the clinical impact of essential oils as anti-inflammatory in vivo bioactive agents in human skin.

The procedure is safe regarding the participant’s comfort and security, easy to apply and fully reproducible, suggesting that this approach might be further developed with other biomarkers to gain further mechanistic insights.

Researchers from the Environment and Sea Research Center, Lisboa contributed to a chromatography analysis and the Foundation for Science and Technology provided a contribution.

Edited by Inga de Jong

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