Exploring the Anti-Hypertensive Potential of Lemongrass-A Comprehensive Review.
Henrique SilvaRita BárbaraPublished in: Biology (2022)
Lemongrass ( Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf) is a herb commonly used in folk medicine for many purposes. However, its anti-hypertensive potential has not yet been thoroughly studied. This paper reviews the anti-hypertensive effects of both lemongrass and its main compound citral in in vitro, ex vivo, preclinical and clinical studies. Lemongrass essential oil contains terpenes and their derivatives, whereas extracts contain different classes of polyphenols. Both citral and lemongrass display vasorelaxant activity ex vivo, acting by the promotion of endothelial nitric oxide/prostanoids secretion together with the blockage of calcium channels in the vascular smooth muscle. Citral also displays a negative chronotrope effect, probably due to a centrally mediated enhancement of parasympathetic activity. In both healthy and hypertensive animals, the acute administration of lemongrass results in a decrease in blood pressure, sometimes accompanied by a compensatory increase in heart rate. Similarly, in healthy and hypertensive human subjects, the consumption of lemongrass tea decreases blood pressure. Additionally, a weak/moderate diuretic activity has also been reported in animals and humans, although the mechanisms of action remain elusive. Future preclinical studies are necessary to identify other compounds with anti-hypertensive activity and additional pharmacological pathways. Although well tolerated, the safety profile of lemongrass should be better characterized.
Keyphrases
- blood pressure
- heart rate
- hypertensive patients
- heart rate variability
- nitric oxide
- smooth muscle
- essential oil
- endothelial cells
- stem cells
- randomized controlled trial
- blood glucose
- type diabetes
- liver failure
- cell therapy
- heart failure
- systematic review
- skeletal muscle
- bone marrow
- intensive care unit
- dendritic cells
- climate change
- current status
- extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
- insulin resistance
- atrial fibrillation
- nitric oxide synthase
- drug induced
- acute respiratory distress syndrome
- high intensity
- aortic dissection