Qualidade de amostras de capim-limão (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf)

Abstract

Cymbopogon citratus is a medicinal plant known as lemon grass, belonging to the Poaceae family. It has pharmacological action on antispasmodic, anxiolytic and mild sedative and is among the medicinal plants reported by the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia, which establishes quality parameters of this vegetal raw material. The objective of this work was to evaluate the standards of purity and essential oil content established by the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia in commercial samples of lemon grass. Commercial samples (C1, C2, C3 and C4) and a sample of the medicinal garden (HM) of ICA-UFMG were analyzed. For the purity analysis of the plant drug, methods established by the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia were used. The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation, and the content calculated on the basis of the dry matter of the leaves. Chemical analysis were performed in order to identify the essential oil components, as well as to quantify the citral content in each one of them. All the samples presented water contents and total ash lower, respectively, 11% and 9%, being within the values established by the Pharmacopoeia. In two (C1 and C4) of the three commercial samples of the study, the oil content and the percentage of the major oil compound, the citral, were below the limit established by the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia (60%). Thus, it is concluded that not all samples marketed are within the established standards for chemical composition and oil content, however, in relation to water content and total ashes, are in accordance with the established by the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia.