Citronella Oil
Scientific Name(s): Andropogon nardus L., Cymbopogon nardus L. Rendle, Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt
Common Name(s): Ceylon oil, Citronella, Citronella oil
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 30, 2021.
Clinical Overview
Use
Citronella oil is used in small amounts to flavor foods, scent cosmetics, and repel insects. It has been used in aromatic tea as a vermifuge, diuretic, and antispasmodic, although no clinical trials have been performed.
Dosing
There are no published clinical studies of citronella that establish appropriate dosage. In a systematic review, concentrations of 20% and 25% citronella were reported to provide equivalent mean protection time (480 minutes) as the same concentrations of DEET against bites from Anopheles and Culex spp of mosquitoes but not Aedes spp. Protection may be improved with the addition of 5% vanillin.
Contraindications
Contraindications have not yet been identified.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. Avoid use.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
Citronella oil may cause contact dermatitis.
Toxicology
Ingestion may be fatal in some cases.
Scientific Family
- Poaceae (grasses)
Botany
C. nardus (Ceylon citronella) and C. winterianus (Java citronella) are both perennial grasses.USDA 2016 These 2 species are distinguished from each other by different leaf morphologies and chemical composition.Wijesekera 1973 This plant should not be confused with the citrosa plant, Pelargonium citrosa, introduced into North America as a biological repellent against mosquitoes.Matsuda 1996 Citronella's essential oils are obtained by steam distillation of the fresh or dried grass. The Java-type oil generally is considered to be of superior quality to the Ceylon oil.Khan 2009
History
Citronella oil has been used as a flavoring for foods and beverages in very low quantities (approximately 45 ppm).Khan 2009 In traditional medicine, the oil has been used as an aromatic tea, vermifuge, diuretic, and antispasmodic.Khan 2009 Perhaps the most widely recognized use for the oil is as an insect repellent. It is sometimes incorporated into perfumes and soaps.Evans 1989
Chemistry
Citronella oil contains a number of fragrant fractions of which citronellal, geraniol, and citronellol are the major components.Khan 2009, Windholz 1983 Gas chromatographic analysis of the Ceylon variety indicates that the oil contains large amounts of monoterpenes (approximately 27%), as opposed to the Java variety, which contains only 1% to 3%, mostly in the form of limonene.Wijesekera 1973 Both types contain comparable amounts of geraniol (18% to 21%). The Java oil is superior to the Ceylon type; the Java variety contains 16% citronellol and 33% citronellal, whereas the Ceylon type contains only 8% and 5%, respectively.Wijesekera 1973 The chemical composition of essential oil can vary tremendously. Other predominant compounds in citronella oil include citronellyl acetate, beta-bourbonene, geranyl acetate, elemol, L-borneol, and nerol.Akhila 1986, Patra 1997, Wijesekera 1973 A geraniol-rich mutant of citronella has been developed; it is reported to have a geraniol content as high as 60%.
