Oleum Graminis Citrati. Br. Oil of Lemon Grass.
Related entry: Oil of Citronella
"Oil of Lemon Grass is the oil distilled from Cymbopogon citratus, Stapf, and Cymbopogon flexuosus, Stapf." Br.
Lemon-grass Oil.
The East Indian Lemon Grass Oil comes from Malabar, Cochin, India and the Malay Peninsula. A product of the C. citratus comes from Ceylon, Burma and adjacent countries, as well as from Mexico and the West Indies.
It is officially described in the British Pharmacopoeia, 1914, as "Dark yellow. Odor resembling that of verbena. Specific gravity 0.880 to 0.905; optical rotation -3° to +3°. Contains not less than 70 per cent. of aldehydes as determined by the process described under Oleum Cinnamomi." Br.
The chief aldehyde present is citral, of which it contains 70 to 85 per cent. Linalool, geraniol and methyl peptenone are also reported present in small amounts. The principal use of the oil is in perfuming cheap soaps. (See also Oil of Citronella.)
Oil of lemon grass is sometimes used in Eastern countries as a carminative and stimulant in doses of one-half to three minims (0.03-0.2 mil). Its chief use is in perfumery.
