J Ethnopharmacol. 1989 Feb; 25(1): 103-7.

Pharmacological study of Cymbopogon citratus leaves.

Carbajal D, Casaco A, Arruzazabala L, Gonzalez R, Tolon Z.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Center for Scientific Research, Havana, Cuba.

Cymbopogon citratus leaves are employed by the Cuban population as an antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory folk medicine. A 10% or 20% decoction of leaves was tested using arterial pressure in rats, urine production and carrageenan-induced edema in rats. The decoction showed some dose-related hypotensive effects given intravenously and some weak diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect when given orally.