Essential Oil of Cymbopogon Citratus Against Diabetes: Validation by In vivo Experiments and Computational Studies

Abstract

This study evaluates the antidiabetic activities of essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the leaf sheath of Cymbopogon citratus (CCEO) in poloxamer-407 induced type 2 diabetic (T2D) Wistar rats. The sample was then analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GCMS) identifying 23 compounds representing 96.9% of the oil. The major compounds of essential oil were geranial (42.4%), neral (29.8%), myrcene (8.9%) and geraniol (8.5%). When compared to diabetic control rats, the CCEO treated diabetic rats presented significant amelioration of glycaemia, insulinamia and lipid dysmetabolism, accompanied by increased GLP-1 content in cecum and remarkable reduction of oxidative markers. Histopatholgical analysis of pancreas showed increase in β-cell mass, islet number and quality of insulitis. HYBRID and FRED docking were performed for 48 documented CCEO phytoconstituents for putative action mechanism concerning three proteins namely PTP-1B, PPAR-γ and DPP-IV having diabetic therapeutic properties. Phytoconstituents like myrcenol, linalool, α-elemol and β-Eudesmol showed significant interaction with PPAR-γ and DPP-IV while only pimelyl dihydrazide showed interaction with PTP-1B. The results provided a pharmacological evidence of CCEO as antidiabetic mediated by interaction of various phytoconstituents with multiple targets operating in diabetes mellitus.

Effect of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus Stapf) tea in a type 2 diabetes rat model

“…In some previous studies, treatment of lemongrass ethanol and aqueous extracts to non-diabetic animals reduced blood glucose by 21.3% and 19.8%, respectively [11,14]. Similarly, administration of essential oil or aqueous extract reduced blood glucose by about 47.3% and 42.4% in hyperlipidemic and diabetic animals, respectively [15,16]. However, in our present study, consumption of…”

“…Furthermore, boiling has been the widely method used for the preparation of lemongrass as beverage for nourishment and for the traditional treatment of diabetes across most parts of the world. Interestingly, Bharti et al [16] have reported the hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant potential of lemongrass essential oils in hyperlipidemic rats. The main constrains to this study were lack of using T2D animal model and essential oils may not contain some polar component of lemongrass such as the flavonoids.…”

A Review on Major Constituents of Various Essential Oils and its Application

“…Presence of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons such as Germacrene B and Germacrene D in the essential oil could be the reason for cytotoxic activity [20]. Chemical composition of Guazuma ulmifolia essential oil could be suggested as potential source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial for food industry [21].…”

Lead Finding from Plant Cymbopogon Citratus with Immunomodulator Potentials through in Silico Methods

“…In addition, myrcene, geraniol, borneol, citronellol, limonene, a-terpineol, elemicin, nerol, catechol, luteolin, apigenin, quercetin, kaempferol, glycosides, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, geranyl acetate as well as methylheptenone, isovaleric aldehyde, fumesol, L-linalool, furfurol, isopulegol, ndecyclic aldehyde, p-coumaric acid, terpinene are also evident in trace amount in several studies [12][13][14]. There are also reports on the presence of isoscoparin, swertiajaponin, orientin and other phytochemicals in lemongrass [15,16]. The amount of major constituents of lemongrass EO found in studies which shows a greater presence of trans-citral (geranial) and ciscitral (neral) along with more reduced amounts of nerol, geraniol, citronellol, terpinolene, geranyl acetate, myrcene, a-terpineol and other components.…”