Lemongrass is a medicinal plant that produces essential oil with a variety of therapeutic
properties. Although lemongrass essential oil (LGEO) is promising in clinical applications,
the existing knowledge on the efficacy and safety of LGEO remains limited. This scoping
review aimed to identify, summarize, and synthesize existing literature related to
the clinical applications of LGEO to provide an overview of its potential therapeutic
benefits for patients. Three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus) were used
following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines to find articles published between 1 January 2013,
and 1 November 2022. A total of 671 records were identified and 8 articles were included
in this scoping review. The majority of patients received oromucosal and topical treatment.
The results of the studies suggest that LGEO might be a useful tool in the treatment
of periodontitis, gingivitis and oral malodour, with similar efficacy to chlorhexidine
(anti-gingivitis effect) and doxycycline (periodontitis). Additionally, LGEO has the
potential for treating pityriasis versicolor and preventing skin aging and may have
anti-dandruff effects. These findings not only underscore the diverse clinical potential
of LGEO but also emphasize its comparable efficacy to established treatments. Further
research is imperative to comprehensively evaluate LGEO’s effectiveness, safety, mechanisms
of action, potential interactions with other medications, and its long-term tolerability
across diverse populations.
