Molecules 2008, 13(8), 1864-1874; doi:10.3390/molecules13081864
Article

Evaluation of the Chemical Composition of Brazilian Commercial Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.) Stapf Samples

Luiz Cláudio Almeida Barbosa 1,* email, Ulisses Alves Pereira 1 email, Ana Paula Martinazzo 2,3 email, Célia Regina Álvares Maltha 1 email, Róbson Ricardo Teixeira 1 email and Evandro de Castro Melo 3 email
1 Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil 2 Department of Agricultural Engineering, Fluminense Federal University, Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 3 Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 11 July 2008; in revised form: 21 August 2008 / Accepted: 22 August 2008 / Published: 27 August 2008
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Abstract: The concentration and the chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from different samples of Cymbopogon citratus were evaluated. Among the 12 samples investigated (11 dried leaf samples and fresh plant leaves), seven presented essential oil concentrations within the threshold established by the Brazilian legislation. The moisture content was also determined and the majority of the samples presented humidity contents near 12%. The GC and GC/MS analyses of the essential oils led to identification of 22 compounds, with neral and geranial as the two major components. The total percentage of these two compounds varied within the investigated sample oils from 40.7% to 75.4%. In addition, a considerable variation in the chemical composition of the analyzed samples was observed. The process of grinding the leaves significantly decreased (by up to 68%) the essential oil content, as well as the percentage of myrcene in the oils.
Keywords: Cymbopogon citratus; lemongrass; citronella grass; essential oil; losses and changes of oil

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MDPI and ACS Style

Barbosa, L.C.A.; Pereira, U.A.; Martinazzo, A.P.; Maltha, C.R.Á.; Teixeira, R.R.; Melo, E.C. Evaluation of the Chemical Composition of Brazilian Commercial Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.) Stapf Samples. Molecules 2008, 13, 1864-1874.

AMA Style

Barbosa LCA, Pereira UA, Martinazzo AP, Maltha CRÁ, Teixeira RR, Melo EC. Evaluation of the Chemical Composition of Brazilian Commercial Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.) Stapf Samples. Molecules. 2008; 13(8):1864-1874.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Barbosa, Luiz C.A.; Pereira, Ulisses A.; Martinazzo, Ana P.; Maltha, Célia R.Á.; Teixeira, Róbson R.; Melo, Evandro C. 2008. "Evaluation of the Chemical Composition of Brazilian Commercial Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.) Stapf Samples." Molecules 13, no. 8: 1864-1874.

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