Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026

A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products
Published on: October 4, 2019
Essential oil biosynthesis and regulation in the genus Cymbopogon
Deepak Ganjewala1, Rajesh Luthra
1School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) University, Vellore-632 014, (T.N.) India. deepakganjawala73@yahoo.com
Abstract:
Essential oils distilled from Cymbopogon species are of immense commercial value as flavors and fragrances in the perfumery, cosmetics, soaps, and detergents and in pharmaceutical industries. Two major constituents of the essential oil, geraniol and citral, due to their specific rose and lemon like aromas are widely used as flavors, fragrances and cosmetics. Citral is also used for the synthesis of vitamin A and ionones (for example, beta-ionone, methyl ionone). Moreover, Cymbopogon essential oils and constituents possess many useful biological activities including cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Despite the immense commercial and biological significance of the Cymbopogon essential oils, little is known about their biosynthesis and regulatory mechanisms. So far it is known that essential oils are biosynthesized via the classical acetate-MVA route and existence of a newly discovered MEP pathway in Cymbopogon remains as a topic for investigation. The aim of the present review is to discuss the biosynthesis and regulation of essential oils in the genus Cymbopogon with given emphasis to two elite members, lemongrass (C. flexuosus Nees ex Steud) and palmarosa (C. martinii Roxb.). This article highlights the work done so far towards understanding of essential oil biosynthesis and regulation in the genus Cymbopogon. Also, based on our experiences with Cymbopogon species, we would like to propose C. flexuosus as a model system for the study of essential oil metabolism beyond the much studied plant family Lamiaceae.
Related Concept Videos
Biosynthesis in Bacteria
Biosynthesis of Lipids
Aromatic Compounds: Overview
In 1825, Faraday isolated benzene...
C4 Pathway and CAM
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
The Calvin Benson Cycle
Plant Hormones
