Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora) Essential Oil – A Review

Lemon verbena essential oil is extracted from Lippia citriodora syn. Aloysia citriodora plants. Over centuries, the herb has been used in folk medicine for preparing infusions used in the treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory ailments. Lemon verbena essential oil is primarily obtained by hydrodistillation. Its yield and chemical composition vary depending on the geographical location, drying methods, harvesting period, isolation and packaging methods, and storage duration. Its chief components are citral - a mixture of neral and geranial - and limonene. In lemon verbena essential oils from different parts of the world, limonene or 1,8-cineole may dominate over other compounds. The flowering period is the best phenological stage of the plant for harvesting, during which essential oil containing a high citral content can be obtained with high yields. Aloysia citriodora essential oil exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities and is prescribed for many common psychological problems, including stress and insomnia. Numerous scientific studies have confirmed that L. citriodora essential oil exhibits a wide spectrum of biological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and insect repellent properties. In this paper, recent information on the chemical composition of lemon verbena essential oil is reviewed with respect to the origin of the plant and its bioactivity, especially antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.