Cymbopogon citratus industrial waste as a potential source of bioactive compounds.
BACKGROUND
Cymbopogon citratus (Cc), commonly known as lemongrass, is a very important crop worldwide, being grown in tropical countries. It is widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and perfumery industries for its essential oil. Cc aqueous extracts are also used in traditional medicine. They contain high levels of polyphenols, which are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Hydrodistillation of lemongrass essential oil produces an aqueous waste (CcHD) which is discarded. Therefore a comparative study between CcHD and Cc infusion (CcI) was performed to characterize its phytochemical profile and to research its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential.


RESULTS
HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS(n) analysis showed that CcI and CcHD have similar phenolic profiles, with CcHD presenting a higher amount of polyphenols. Additionally, both CcI and CcHD showed antioxidant activity against DPPH (EC50 of 41.72 ± 0.05 and 42.29 ± 0.05 µg mL(-1) respectively) and strong anti-inflammatory properties, by reducing NO production and iNOS expression in macrophages and through their NO-scavenging activity, in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, no cytotoxicity was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The data of this study encourage considering the aqueous solution from Cc leaf hydrodistillation as a source of bioactive compounds, which may add great industrial value to this crop.
Center for Pharmaceutical Studies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.|Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.
Filipa
F
Tavares
Center for Pharmaceutical Studies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.|Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.|Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal.
Gustavo
G
Costa
Center for Pharmaceutical Studies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.|Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal.
Vera
V
Francisco
Center for Pharmaceutical Studies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.|Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal.
Joana
J
Liberal
Center for Pharmaceutical Studies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.|Departmento de Ambiente, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Campus Politécnico de Repeses, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal.
Artur
A
Figueirinha
Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.|Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal.
Maria Celeste
MC
Lopes
Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.|Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal.
Maria Teresa
MT
Cruz
Center for Pharmaceutical Studies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.|Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.|Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal.
Maria Teresa
MT
Batista
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031743:Cymbopogon / Q000737:chemistry*; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D007220:Industrial Waste; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols
Cymbopogon citratus; anti-inflammatory; antioxidant; industrial waste; lemongrass; polyphenols