Lemongrass

Lemongrass/Drug Interactions:

  • GeneralGeneral: Lemon grass and citronella oil have been found to be permeation enhancers of transdermal delivery of drugs (150; 151).
  • AnalgesicsAnalgesics: Lemongrass has exhibited analgesic effects in mice and rat study (152; 153; 154; 72).
  • AntibioticsAntibiotics: Lemongrass has demonstrated antibacterial properties in laboratory study (155; 156; 157; 158; 159; 160; 161; 162; 163; 164; 165; 166; 167; 168; 169; 170; 171; 172; 173; 174; 175; 176; 177; 77; 78; 58; 59; 81; 84; 63). Some examples of organisms that lemongrass had activity against are Enterobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Streptococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Propionibacterium acnes, Proteus mirabilis, and Morganella morganii (162; 164; 178; 176; 159; 160; 161; 168; 172; 174; 59; 81).
  • Anticoagulants and antiplateletsAnticoagulants and antiplatelets: In in vitro study, the dichloromethane extract of Cymbopogon ambiguus caused significant inhibition of platelet activation (110; 90).
  • Anticonvulsant agentsAnticonvulsant agents: In animal study, the essential oils from Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt and Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf (particularly the constituents geraniol, ctironellal, and citronellol) displayed anticonvulsant effects, elevated the seizure threshold, or blocked seizure spread (102; 74; 112). The mechanism appeared to be dependent upon GABAergic neurotransmission as evidenced in animal study (112).
  • Antidiabetic agentsAntidiabetic agents: Based on rat study, lemongrass has shown hypoglycemic effects (106), and caution should be taken when administering lemongrass with hypoglycemic medications, due to a possible additive decrease in blood glucose (130; 131).
  • AntifungalsAntifungals: Lemongrass has been shown to have antifungal properties in laboratory study (179; 180; 181; 182; 183; 184; 185; 186; 187; 188; 189; 190; 191; 192; 193; 194; 195; 196; 197; 198; 199; 200; 201; 202; 203; 204; 205; 206; 207; 208; 209; 210; 54; 55; 56; 211; 57; 58; 59; 60; 63). Some examples of these fungi include various Aspergillus species, Rhizoctonia solani, Pyricularia orizea. Fusarium oxysporum, and antimycotic-resistant Candida species (Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida tropicalis) (54; 55; 56; 57; 58; 59; 60; 61; 62; 63). Based on in vitro study, fungicidal activity was noted against Trichophyton mentagrophytes (211).
  • AntihypertensivesAntihypertensives: Based on laboratory and animal study, lemongrass has shown cardiac and antihypertensive effects (126; 117; 127; 128; 129), and caution should be taken when administering with cardiac medications, due to possible synergistic effects.
  • Anti-inflammatoriesAnti-inflammatories: Anti-inflammatory activity has been demonstrated in animal and laboratory study (180; 212; 89; 92).
  • AntilipemicsAntilipemics: In animal study, fresh leaf aqueous extract of Cymbopogon citratus Stapf has been found to lower lipid parameters and increase HDL cholesterol in a dose-dependent fashion (106).
  • Antimalarial agentsAntimalarial agents: Study in mice has shown that lemongrass is effective against the malaria parasite (213; 111; 214).
  • AntiviralsAntivirals: Lemongrass oil has shown antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) in vitro (215).
  • Cholinesterase inhibitorsCholinesterase inhibitors: In vitro study found that ethanolic extracts of Cymbopogon citratus had acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory effects (216).
  • Cytochrome P450: substrates, inhibitors, inducersCytochrome P450: substrates, inhibitors, inducers: Beta-myrcene, a constituent of lemongrass, was determined to be an inducer of the cytochrome P450 2B subfamily in pharmacological study (217). However, in vitro study found that beta-myrcene and other constituents of lemongrass, like citral and pinene, exerted inhibitory effects on cytochrome P450 2B1 and 3A4(218; 219). Animal study of lemongrass oil reported reduced cytochrome P450 activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats (131). These data suggest that caution must be taken when lemongrass is administered while a patient is concurrently taking a drug that is metabolized by the cytochrome P450 system, especially in the 2B subfamily.
  • DiureticsDiuretics: Cymbopogon schoenanthus displayed diuretic effects in animal study (132).
  • VasodilatorsVasodilators: In animal study, citronellol, a monoterpene alcohol, displayed direct effects on the vascular smooth muscle leading to vasodilation (220).

    • Lemongrass/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • GeneralGeneral: Lemon grass and citronella oil have been found to be permeation enhancers of transdermal delivery of herbs and supplements (150; 151).
  • AnalgesicsAnalgesics: Lemongrass has exhibited analgesic effects in mice and rat study (152; 153; 154; 72).
  • AntibacterialsAntibacterials: Lemongrass has demonstrated antibacterial properties in laboratory study (155; 156; 157; 158; 159; 160; 161; 162; 163; 164; 165; 166; 167; 168; 169; 170; 171; 172; 173; 174; 175; 176; 177; 77; 78; 58; 59; 81; 84; 63). Some examples of organisms that lemongrass had activity against are Enterobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Propionibacterium acnes, Proteus mirabilis, and Morganella morganii (162; 164; 178; 176; 159; 160; 161; 168; 172; 174; 59; 81).
  • Anticoagulants and antiplateletsAnticoagulants and antiplatelets: In in vitro study, the dichloromethane extract of Cymbopogon ambiguus caused significant inhibition of platelet activation (110; 90).
  • AnticonvulsantsAnticonvulsants: In animal study, the essential oils from Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt and Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf (particularly the constituents geraniol, ctironellal, and citronellol) displayed anticonvulsant effects, elevated the seizure threshold, or blocked seizure spread (102; 74; 112). The mechanism appeared to be dependent upon GABAergic neurotransmission, as evidenced in animal study (112).
  • AntifungalsAntifungals: Lemongrass has been shown to have antifungal properties in laboratory study (179; 180; 181; 182; 183; 184; 185; 186; 187; 188; 189; 190; 191; 192; 193; 194; 195; 196; 197; 198; 199; 200; 201; 202; 203; 204; 205; 206; 207; 208; 209; 210; 54; 55; 56; 211; 57; 58; 59; 60; 63). Some examples of these fungi include various Aspergillus species, Rhizoctonia solani, Pyricularia orizea. Fusarium oxysporum, and antimycotic-resistant Candida species (Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida tropicalis) (54; 55; 56; 57; 58; 59; 60; 61; 62; 63). Based on in vitro study, fungicidal activity was noted against Trichophyton mentagrophytes (211).
  • Anti-inflammatory agentsAnti-inflammatory agents: Anti-inflammatory activity has been demonstrated in animal and laboratory study (180; 212; 89; 92).
  • Antilipemic agentsAntilipemic agents: In animal study, fresh leaf aqueous extract of Cymbopogon citratus Stapf has been found to have lower lipid parameters and increase HDL cholesterol, in a dose-dependent fashion (106).
  • AntimalarialsAntimalarials: Study in mice has shown that lemongrass is effective against the malaria parasite (213; 111; 214).
  • AntioxidantsAntioxidants: Lemongrass oil has been evaluated for its antioxidant properties (221; 222; 223; 224; 225; 67; 97; 99; 226).
  • AntiviralsAntivirals: Lemongrass oil has shown antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) in vitro (215).
  • ChitosanChitosan: Pretreatment of chitosan microcapsules with citronella oil resulted in changes of concentration of chitosan (227). Particle size of chitosan microcapsules decreased when the emulsification was stirred and as the speed increased.
  • Cholinesterase inhibitorsCholinesterase inhibitors: In vitro study found that ethanolic extracts of Cymbopogon citratus had acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory effects (216).
  • Cytochrome P450: substrates, inhibitors, inducersCytochrome P450: substrates, inhibitors, inducers: Beta-myrcene, a constituent of lemongrass, was determined to be an inducer of the cytochrome P450 2B subfamily in one pharmacological study (217). However, one study found that beta-myrcene and other constituents of lemongrass, like citral and pinene, exerted inhibitory effects on cytochrome P450 2B1 and 3A4(218; 219). Another animal study of lemongrass oil reported reduced cytochrome P450 activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats (131). These data suggest that caution must be taken when lemongrass is administered while a patient is concurrently taking a drug that is metabolized by the cytochrome P450 system, especially in the 2B subfamily.
  • DiureticsDiuretics: Cymbopogon schoenanthus displayed diuretic effects in animal study (132).
  • HypoglycemicsHypoglycemics: Based on rat study, lemongrass has shown hypoglycemic effects (106), and caution should be taken when administering lemongrass with hypoglycemic medications, due to a possible additive decrease in blood glucose (130; 131).
  • HypotensivesHypotensives: Based on laboratory and animal study, lemongrass has shown cardiac and antihypertensive effects (126; 117; 127; 128; 129), and caution should be taken when administering with cardiac herbs, due to possible synergistic effects.
  • VasodilatorsVasodilators: In animal study, citronellol, a monoterpene alcohol, displayed direct effects on the vascular smooth muscle leading to vasodilation (220).

    • Lemongrass/Food Interactions:

  • Insufficient available evidence.

    • Lemongrass/Lab Interactions:

  • Bilirubin and amylaseBilirubin and amylase: Based on human study, direct bilirubin and amylase levels were slightly elevated after a single dose or two weeks of daily oral administration of tea made from lemongrass, although the clinical significance is unknown (66).
  • Blood glucoseBlood glucose: Based on animal study, lemongrass has shown hypoglycemic effects and may decrease blood glucose (130; 131).
  • CalciumCalcium: Calcium levels were corrected following the administration of Cymbopogon schoenanthus to rats with induced kidney stones and oxalate nephrotoxicity (132).
  • Coagulation panelCoagulation panel: In in vitro study, the dichloromethane extract of Cymbopogon ambiguus caused significant inhibition of platelet activation (110; 90).
  • Drug levelsDrug levels: Beta-myrcene, a constituent of lemongrass, was determined to be an inducer of the cytochrome P450 2B subfamily in one pharmacological study (217). However, another study found that beta-myrcene and other constituents of lemongrass, like citral and pinene, exerted inhibitory effects on cytochrome P450 2B1 (218). Another animal study of lemongrass oil reported reduced cytochrome P450 activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats (131). These data suggest that caution must be taken when lemongrass is administered with a drug that is metabolized by the cytochrome P450 system, especially in the 2B subfamily, because drug levels may be altered.
  • ElectrolytesElectrolytes: Cymbopogon schoenanthus displayed diuretic effects in animal study (132).
  • Lipid profileLipid profile: In animal study, fresh leaf aqueous extract of Cymbopogon citratus Stapf has been found to lower lipid parameters and increase HDL cholesterol in a dose-dependent fashion (106).
  • Renal function testsRenal function tests: BUN and creatinine levels were corrected following the administration of Cymbopogon schoenanthus to rats with induced kidney stones and oxalate nephrotoxicity (132).