Lemongrass is indigenous to the tropical islands of Asia, Africa, and Australia. It is also known as Cymbopogon that belongs to Poaceae – a grass family. It grows up to six feet and has purple pinkish base stems. It is cultivated as a culinary and medicinal herb in Asia. And, it is used as a tea in African and Latin American countries. Many species of Lemongrass are cultivated across the world. 

Lemongrass is a rich source of vitamins and minerals as it contains vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and minerals such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc; that are beneficial for health.  

Lemongrass essential oil manufacturers extract the oil from it by steam distillation. This oil is widely used in soaps, household disinfectants, insect sprays, candles, and aromatherapy. The Essential Oil extracted from Cymbopogon citratus is used in perfumes and medicines.  

The appearance of Lemongrass Essential Oil

Lemongrass EO is a thin liquid with a light yellow color and a lemony odor. It is derived from the fresh aerial parts of the plant that yield 0.6% essential oil. The major constituents of Lemongrass Oil are geranial, neural, and B-myrcene. Lemongrass EO is of the best quality if it contains more citral compounds.

East Indian lemongrass EO has more myrcene and fewer citral compounds, while the West Indian type has little or no myrcene content and high citral constituents up to 86%. The chemical composition of lemongrass EO is typically affected by geographical location, climatic conditions, maturity stage of the plant, time of harvest, and extraction method. Therefore, lemongrass oil samples obtained from different lemongrass oil manufacturers are likely to differ from one another.

Health Benefits of Lemongrass Oil

Lemongrass oil is a valuable antifungal and anti-inflammatory liquid to prevent and treat acute inflammatory conditions. The citrate component present in lemongrass oil has anti-inflammatory properties. Its gaseous form is effective against fungus and can be used as a decontaminant in hospitals. Its application on the gums heals tissues faster as per the study also provides antioxidants to maintain dental hygiene. The oil prevents and repairs any damage in the stomach and helps treat ulcers caused by ethanol and aspirin damage. Its eugenol content relieves stomach cramps and upsets. Its usage eases rheumatoid arthritis and headaches.

Lemongrass oil for scabies

Scabies is a contagious skin disease caused by a parasitic infestation. Bacterial infections further aggravate it. The typical treatment for it includes miticides that have ovicidal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Lemongrass oil possesses antiparasitic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It fights against plant pathogens and house-dust mites. 

Applications of Lemongrass Essential Oil

As far as the application is concerned, the lemongrass oil market is used in Pharmaceutical, Cosmetics & Personal Care, and Food & Beverages industrial segments. As Lemongrass oil has high medicinal value and has been used in numerous treatments traditionally, the market demand in the pharmaceutical segment is significant. In the cosmetics & personal care product segment, it is used in soaps, deodorants, shampoos, conditioner, body lotion, air freshener, and tonics. 

Its vital vitamin contents, as well as skin healing properties, propel its demand in the personal care market segment. Lemongrass oil’s flavor profile has gained popularity among users over time. As a result, its use has increased in culinary delights, added to ready-made curries paired with beef, fish, poultry, and seafood. It is also used for flavoring tea and soups.  

Food-Grade V/s Therapeutic Grade Lemongrass Oil

By product type, the global lemongrass oil market is categorized into Food Grade and Therapeutic Grade. Lemongrass is an edible food-grade essential oil that can be used in cooking and flavoring food and drinks. Food grade oil is mainly for food and beverage purposes and therapeutic grade oil is for aromatherapy, pharmaceutical as well as personal care uses. The term “therapeutic grade” was created and trademarked by essential oil wholesale suppliers to differentiate their products from others on the market. The underlying truth of the matter is that the Food and Drug Administration does not certify the quality of essential oils as “therapeutic grade” nor do they provide a certifying label.  

Current Market Trends for Lemongrass Oil  and Geographical Overview

Geographically, the global lemongrass market is segmented into key regions such as North America, Latin America, Middle East & Africa, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The Asia Pacific is a leading lemongrass oil manufacturer and exporter. It is poised to retain its position with its substantial contribution. It is expected to record significant growth during the next five years due to the extensive use of lemongrass oil for medicinal purposes and in various food products, especially in East Asian countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, etc.  

At present, the users in Europe and Latin America contribute hugely in revenues. The lemongrass oil market in Europe is expected to register a lucrative growth in terms of revenue in the coming years owing to the increasing demand for essential oils among consumers in the region. 

Major essential oil suppliers have expanded their reach in the market with integrations in the value chain. They have entered into long-term contracts with raw material suppliers as well as research institutes for product innovation. The essential oil manufacturers are focusing on increasing their production capacities by expanding their operations to different regions. 

Some of the key participating players in the lemongrass oil market globally are Native American Nutritionals Essential Oils, Doterra, Aromaaz International, Rocky Mountain Oils, New Directions Aromatics, Aroma web, Plant Therapy® Essential Oils, Aura Cacia® Essential Oils, Prime Natural Essential Oils, Mountain Rose Herbs® Essential Oils, Fabulous Frannie Essential Oils, and Healing Solutions Essential Oils. 

Future Outlook
The demand for lemongrass oil in the pharmaceuticals and cosmetic industries is likely to accelerate the growth of the global market in the forthcoming period. However, the high cost of lemongrass oil may hinder the growth of the global lemongrass oil market. Nevertheless, increasing usage of lemongrass oil in the food industry can create high revenue opportunities for essential oil exporters in the target market.