Citronella oil explained

thumb|Citronella oilCitronella oil is an essential oil obtained from the leaves and stems of different species of Cymbopogon (lemongrass). The oil is used extensively as a source of perfumery chemicals such as citronellal, citronellol, and geraniol. These chemicals find extensive use in soap, candles and incense, perfumery, cosmetic, and flavouring industries throughout the world.[1] Citronella oil is also a plant-based insect repellent and has been registered for this use in the United States since 1948.[2] The United States Environmental Protection Agency considers oil of citronella as a biopesticide with a non-toxic mode of action.[3]

Citronella oil has strong antifungal properties.[4] [5] [6]

Types

Citronella oil is classified in trade into two chemotypes:[7]

Ceylon type

Java type

The higher proportions of citronellal and geraniol in the Java type oil make it a better source for perfumery derivatives.[8] The standard quality of Java type from Indonesia is regulated by Indonesian authority under SNI 06–3953–1995, which requires citronellal minimum 35% and total geraniol minimum 85%.[9]

Both types probably originated from Mana Grass of Sri Lanka, which according to Finnemore (1962) occurs today in two wild forms – Cymbopogon nardus var. linnae (typicus) and C. nardus var. confertiflorus. Neither wild form is known to be used for distillation to any appreciable extent.

Citronella oil from Cymbopogon species should not be confused with other similar lemony oils from Corymbia citriodora and Pelargonium citrosum.

Insect repellent

Citronella oil is used especially as a mosquito repellent,[10] particularly for Aedes aegypti (dengue fever mosquito).[11] Research also indicates that citronella oil is an effective repellent for body lice, head lice, and stable flies.[12] [13] A study conducted by DARPA in 1963 determined that hydroxycitronellal was an effective repellent against both aquatic and terrestrial leeches.[14]

Citronella candles (which burn citronella oil) are not effective at repelling Aedes aegypti, the species of mosquito responsible for spreading dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika fever, Mayaro and yellow fever viruses, and other disease agents.[15]

Although direct application of citronella oil to the skin is non-toxic, its use was not recommended as a topical insect repellent in Canada in 2006.[16] [17] Health Canada banned use of citronella oil as an insect repellent in 2012, but lifted the ban in February 2015.[18]

World production

At present, the world annual production of citronella oil is approximately 4,000 tonnes. The main producers are China and Indonesia - producing 40 percent of the world's supply. The oil is also produced in Taiwan, Guatemala, Honduras, Brazil, Sri Lanka, India, Argentina, Ecuador, Jamaica, Madagascar, Mexico, and South Africa.

The market for natural citronella oil has been eroded by chemicals synthesised from turpentine derived from conifers. However, natural citronella oil and its derivatives are preferred by the perfume industry.[19]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Lawless . J. . The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils . 1995 . Element . 1-85230-661-0.
  2. Web site: U.S. EPA Citronella Factsheet . June 9, 2014 .
  3. Web site: EPA citronella reregistration fact sheet .
  4. . Nakahara . Kazuhiko . Alzoreky . Najeeb S. . Yoshihashi . Tadashi . Nguyen . Huong T. T. . Trakoontivakorn . Gassinee . Chemical Composition and Antifungal Activity of Essential Oil from Cymbopogon nardus (Citronella Grass) . Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences . October 2003 . 37 . 4 . 249–52.
  5. . 8893526 . 1996 . Pattnaik . S . Subramanyam . VR . Kole . C . Antibacterial and antifungal activity of ten essential oils in vitro . 86 . 349 . 237–46 . Microbios.
  6. 10.1186/1472-6882-6-39 . 2006 . Prabuseenivasan . Seenivasan . Jayakumar . Manickkam . Ignacimuthu . Savarimuthu . BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine . 6 . 39 . 17134518 . In vitro antibacterial activity of some plant essential oils . 1693916 . free .
  7. Chang, Yu Shyun, 2007, 8 Map species from Malaysia for ICS, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Workshop on NFP, 28–29 May 2007, Nanchang, PR China Web site: Archived copy . 2007-09-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070716050943/http://www.ics.trieste.it/Documents/Downloads/df4658.pdf . 2007-07-16 .
  8. Online referenced article, Torres, R.C., Tio, BDJ, Citronella oil industry: challenges and breakthroughs http://mis.dost.gov.ph/itdi/R&D/cmd/CITRONELLA_OIL.pdf
  9. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering - "Essential Oil Extraction From Citronella Stems (Cymbopogon winterianus) By Vacuum Distillation" https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1757-899X/1053/1/012119/pdf
  10. 10.1111/j.1748-5967.2005.tb00146.x . Evaluation of Repellency Effect of Two Natural Aroma Mosquito Repellent Compounds, Citronella and Citronellal . 2005 . Kim . Jeong-Kyu . Kang . Chang-Soo . Lee . Jong-Kwon . Kim . Young-Ran . Han . Hye-Yun . Yun . Hwa Kyung . Entomological Research . 35 . 2 . 117–20. 85112045 .
  11. 10.1002/ptr.1637 . Comparative repellency of 38 essential oils against mosquito bites . 2005 . Trongtokit . Yuwadee . Rongsriyam . Yupha . Komalamisra . Narumon . Apiwathnasorn . Chamnarn . Phytotherapy Research . 19 . 4 . 303–9 . 16041723. 23425671 .
  12. 10.1111/j.1570-7458.1996.tb00795.x . Repellency of essential oils and their components to the human body louse, Pediculus humanus humanus . 1996 . Mumcuoglu . Kosta Y. . Galun . Rachel . Bach . Uri . Miller . Jacqueline . Magdassi . Shlomo . Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata . 78 . 3 . 309–14. 84889511 . free .
  13. 15609890 . Repellency of citronella for head lice: Double-blind randomized trial of efficacy and safety . 2004 . Mumcuoglu . KY . Magdassi . S . Miller . J . Ben-Ishai . F . Zentner . G . Helbin . V . Friger . M . Kahana . F . Ingber . A. 3 . 6 . 12 . 756–9 . The Israel Medical Association Journal .
  14. Web site: Dtic.mil. https://web.archive.org/web/20150418063847/http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/413979.pdf. 18 April 2015.
  15. Pearson . Gwen . 2017-02-16 . Want to repel mosquitoes? Don’t use citronella candles . Science . 10.1126/science.aal0773 . 0036-8075.
  16. Web site: Citronella FAQs . CBC. 26 September 2006 .
  17. Web site: Bond C, Buhl K, Stone D . Oil of citronella: General fact sheet . US National Pesticide Information Center, Oregon State University Extension Services . 6 November 2023 . 2013.
  18. Web site: Citronella bug spray makes comeback after public pressure . 19 February 2015. 6 November 2023 . Harris . Sophia . CBC .
  19. FOODNET, The Association for Strengthening Agricultural research in Eastern and Central Africa Web site: FoodNet | Market Information | Tropical Commodities | Commodities C 1 . 2008-04-13 . dead . https://archive.today/20120803225428/http://www.foodnet.cgiar.org/market/Tropcomm/part2c1.htm . 2012-08-03 .

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