Lemongrass tea: A potential treatment for anemia?

Researchers from the University of Uyo and the University of Calabar in Nigeria found that lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) tea can increase red blood cell production and could help treat anemia. In their study, they looked at the effects of lemongrass tea on hematologic indices in humans.

• For the study, the researchers recruited 105 participants aged 18 to 35 years.
• All participants underwent a thorough pre-survey medical screening.
• The researchers randomly assigned the participants to one of three groups, with groups 1, 2, and 3 receiving two, four, or eight grams (g) of lemongrass leaf powder, respectively, infused in 150 milliliters (ml) of hot water once a day for 30 days.
• The hematologic indices of the participants were assessed one day before the intervention and at the 10^th and 30^th days after the intervention.
• Results showed that lemongrass leaf powder contains tannins, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, macronutrients, and micronutrients.
• All infusions from lemongrass leaf powder greatly increased packed cell volume (PCV), which is the percentage of red blood cells found in the blood, hemoglobin, and red blood cells.
• These results suggested that the infusions prepared from lemongrass boosted the body’s ability to produce red blood cells, which may be attributed to the extract’s antioxidant content.
• The findings of the study were published in the Journal of Medicinal Food.

Overall, the findings of the study suggested that lemongrass increases the production of red blood cell, which could be potentially used to treat anemia.

To read more studies on the health benefits of lemongrass, visit NaturalMedicine.news.

Journal Reference:

Ekpenyong CE, Daniel NE, Antai AB. BIOACTIVE NATURAL CONSTITUENTS FROM LEMONGRASS TEA AND ERYTHROPOIESIS BOOSTING EFFECTS: POTENTIAL USE IN PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF ANEMIA. Journal of Medicinal Food. 6 January 2015; 18(1): 118-127. DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2013.0184