Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics

having a higher concentration of these con-
stituents than the Ceylon type; the relative
proportions of these components vary greatly,
depending on the sources (ARCTANDER;LIST
AND HO ̈RHAMMER; MARTINDALE; MASADA;
YOUNGKEN).1–9
Other constituents include esters (acetates,
propionates, etc.) of geraniol, citronellol, and
linalool; monoterpenes (limonene, pinene,
camphene, etc.); sesquiterpenes and alcohols
(bourbonene,caryophyllene, elemol, farnesol,
etc.); phenols (eugenol, methyl eugenol, etc.);
and free acids, among others. Java citronella
oil contains higher amounts of sesquiterpenes,
while the Ceylon type contains much larger
amounts of monoterpenes (ARCTANDER;LIST
AND HO ̈RHAMMER).1,2,4–6,8Other major constit-
uent monoterpenes of Ceylon citronella oil
are cis-sabinene hydrate, and g-terpineol,
and among sesquiterpenes, nerolidol,b-car-
yophyllene, and germacrene-ol.^10

PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL
ACTIVITIES

Citronella oil has shown antibacterial and
antifungal activitiesin vitro,11–13the Ceylon
oil being as active as penicillin against certain
Gram-positive bacteria.14,15The most active
volatile constituents of Ceylon oil against the
growth ofAspergillus,Eurotium, andPenicil-
liumspecies were citronellal and linalool.^16
Java citronella oil also displaysin vitronem-
aticidal activity.^17 Both types of citronella oil
have mosquito-repellent activity.18,19Ceylon
oil has shown mosquito larvicidal activity
againstCulex quinquefasciatuslarvae. The
most active constituent in the monoterpene
fraction was myrcene.^20

TOXICOLOGY

Citronella oil is mildly irritant to the skin
(TISSERAND AND BALAZS) and is reported to
cause contact dermatitis in humans (DE SMET
ET AL.;LEWIS AND ELVIN-LEWIS).^21 However, at
8% concentration no sensitization was found

in a 2-day closed patch test. The LD 50 of

citronella oil in rats was over 5 g/kg p.o.^21

USES

Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.

Both oils are used as a component in certain

insect repellent formulations. Major current

use is as a fragrance component in soaps,

brilliantines, disinfectants, and perfumes,

among others. Maximum use levels reported

for the Ceylon oil were 0.6% in soaps and

0.8% in perfumes.^21

Food. The Ceylon oil is reportedly used as

flavor ingredient in numerous food products,

including alcoholic and nonalcoholic bev-

erages, frozen dairy desserts, candy, baked

goods, gelatins and puddings, and breakfast

cereals. Highest average maximum use level

reported is about 0.005% in candy and baked

goods (45.9 and 47.6 ppm, respectively).

Dietary Supplements/Health Foods. Essen-

tial oil of citronella widely available in health

food stores, primarily used as an insect repel-

lent for humans and pets (ROSE).

Traditional Medicine. Leaves of Ceylon cit-

ronellaareusedinmedicinalandaromaticteas,

as vermifuge, febrifuge, stomachic, diaphoret-

ic, diuretic, emmenagogue, antispasmodic,

and stimulant in various cultures (LIST AND

HO ̈RHAMMER;ROSE). The oil is used as a rubifa-

cient and is reputed to be carminitive, diapho-

retic, stimulant, and antispasmodic (KIRTIKAR).

COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS

Both Oils are Available

Regulatory Status. Essential oil, natural ex-

tractive, and solvent-free oleoresin GRAS,

with onlyC. narduslisted (§182.20). Subject

of a German therapeutic monograph as a mild

astringent and stomachic; efficacy not docu-

mented (BLUMENTHAL1).

202 Citronella oil (ceylon and java)