Cymbopogon martinii
Cymbopogon martini · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (14 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Cymbopogon martinii, scientifically known as Cymbopogon martini, is a highly aromatic perennial grass belonging to the Poaceae family. Renowned for its intense lemony scent, this essential oil-bearing plant is widely cultivated for its therapeutic properties, offering significant antiseptic, antimicrobial, and calming benefits in traditional and modern herbal medicine.
Names
Common Names
- Cymbopogon martinii
- ginger grass
- motia grass
- rosha grass
- rusa grass
- sofia grass
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Cymbopogon martinii
German:
- Cymbopogon martinii
- Gingergras
- Palmarosa
- Palmarosagras
French:
- Cymbopogon martinii
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Cymbopogon martiniSynonyms
- Gymnanthelia martini
- Andropogon pachnodes
- Andropogon schoenanthus var. martini
- Cymbopogon martini var. sofia
- Andropogon martini
- Cymbopogon motia
- Cymbopogon pachnodes
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Poales, it is classified under the family Poaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Cymbopogon.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Poales | WCVP |
| Family | Poaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cymbopogon | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning multiple continents and climate zones. In Northern Africa, its presence is documented within the borders of Egypt. Moving toward the center of the continent, it can be found in the West-Central Tropical Africa region, specifically in the Central African Republic. Its distribution extends to the Western Indian Ocean, where it inhabits both Madagascar and the Seychelles. Finally, the species is located in East Asia, specifically within South-Central China.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Egypt | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Madagascar | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Seychelles | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Cymbopogon martinii, is a highly valued medicinal grass known primarily for its fragrant properties. While the roots are part of the plant's structural foundation, the most significant parts for therapeutic use are the long, slender leaves. These leaves are the primary source from which various oils are extracted through distillation processes. Specifically, the plant is harvested to produce high-quality essential oils, which contain concentrated bioactive compounds. The most sought-after component is its essential oil, often referred to as citronella oil, which is widely used in aromatherapy and traditional medicine for its antimicrobial and calming effects.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cymbopogon martini has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (E)-Carveol, (Z)-p-Mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol, (e)-p-mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol, GERANIOL, LIMONENE.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| (E)-Carveol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (Z)-p-Mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (e)-p-mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| GERANIOL | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| LIMONENE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
(E)-Carveol
- Inflammopharmacology
(Z)-p-Mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol
- Inflammopharmacology
(e)-p-mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol
- Inflammopharmacology
GERANIOL
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
LIMONENE
- Inflammopharmacology
Activities
Cymbopogon martini has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antifungal, Antibacterial.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antifungal | IET nanobiotechnology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | IET nanobiotechnology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cymbopogon martini has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Aspergillus fumigatus.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Aspergillus fumigatus | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Essential oils | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| essential oils | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hydro-distilled essential oil | Inflammopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oils | IET nanobiotechnology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |