Botanical Name

Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf.

Family

Poaceae.

Synonyms

Andropogon citratus DC., Andropogon cerifer Hack., Andropogon ceriferus Hack., Andropogon fragrans C.Cordem., Andropogon roxburghii Nees ex Steud.

Regional Name

English : Lemon grass, Hindi : Gandhatrun, Harichaaya, Sanskrit : Bhutrnah, Jambiratrnah, Guhybija, Bhutika, Bengali : Gandhatrun, Gandhabenaa, Gujrati : Lilichaa, Kannada : Majjigahullu, Malayalam : Chennanampullu, Incippullu, Vasanappullu, Marathi : Hirvaa Chahaa, Olaa Chahaa, Paatichahaa, Punjabi : Gandhatrun, Sharbaan, Tamil : Vasanaipillu, Telugu : Nimmagaddi, Vasana gaddi.

Part Used

Whole Plant.

Description

Bhutrnah commonly known as lemon grass or oil grass, is a tropical plant from  South Asia and Southeast Asia. Bhutrnah is a tall tufted perennial grass cultivated in various parts of India. Roots are fibrous, adventitious, 5 to 10 mm in length, 0.2 to 0.7 mm in thickness. Rhizome are irregular, dark brown in colour, narrow internodes present 4 to 9 cm in length, 1.5 to 2 cm in diameter. Stem are pale yellow, hollow, 4 to 10 cm in length, 1 to 3 cm in diameter. Leaves are glaucous, linear, parallel veined, about 90 cm in length, 2 to 3 cm in width, conspicuous midrib present, apex pointed, margin entire, with sheathing base and a ligule at its base; lemon odour, taste bitter.

Phytoconstituents

Essential oil containing citral as major component besides geraniol and other terpenes. It is also contains 65-85% citral in addition to myrcene, citronella, citronellol, and geraniol.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Tiksna, Virya : Usna, Vipaka : Katu, Karma : Caksusya, Dipana, Kaphahara, Stanyajanana, Vatahara, Visaghna, Sitaprasamana, Recana, Mukhasodhana, Avrsya, Rucikaraka, Vamihara.

Ayurvedic Applications

Svasa, Bhutabadha, Daha, Dadru, Kasa, Krmi, Kustha, Udara, Arocaka, Santapa, Vami, Grahabadha, Udarda.

Medicinal Uses

Digestive System Disorders, Infections & Infestations, Blood System Disorders, Genitourinary System Disorders, Respiratory System Disorders, Mental Disorders, Metabolic System Disorders.