Anti-inflammatory activity of the essential oils of Cymbopogon validus (Stapf) Stapf ex Burtt Davy from Eastern Cape, South Africa

Objective To evaluate the essential oil composition and the anti-inflammatory activity of Cymbopogon validus (C. validus) leaves and flowers. Methods A total of 300 g of fresh or dry (leaves and flowers) of C. validus were cut into small pieces and subjected to hydro-distillation method for approximately 5 h using the Clevenger apparatus. The extracted essential oils were then used for testing the anti-inflammatory activity. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by using egg albumin-induced paw edema. Results The extracted oils had the following yields 2.2% for fresh leaves, 2.0% for dry leaves and 2.4% v/w for dry flowers. GC–MS results revealed that the oils contained artemisia ketone (37.5%), linalool (3.2%–29.6%), northujane (4.4%–16.8%), verbenone (13.5%), naphthalene (1.7%–9.6%), δ-cadinene (0.5%–8.1%), hedycaryol (5.4%–7.6%) and α-eudesmol (6.5%–6.7%) as the major constituents. C. validus essential oils showed significant (P < 0.05) anti-inflammatory effects from the first 30 min after albumin injection compared to aspirin which had a later onset of effect. Conclusions The findings of this study show that the essential oil extracted from C. validus fresh or dry leaves and flowers have anti-inflammatory properties; that might be associated with the major components and the minor components found in the essential oils.