Phytochemical Profiling of Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon nardus through Gas-Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

Abstract

Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) and Cymbopogon nardus (citronella) are aromatic grasses widely used in culinary, therapeutic, and commercial applications. Despite their similar appearances and scent profiles, their compositions may differ significantly.  The stalks of C. citratus are commonly used in cooking, while its leaves are often discarded. On the other hand, C. nardus is used as an essential oil in the insect repellent products. Due to their similarities, these species often misidentified and used interchangeably, which may compromise the efficacy of the products. This study aims to extract and analyze the essential oils from leaves and stalks of both species to uncover their bioactive compositions.