Author(s):
Pratiksha Jadhav, Pratima Tatke, Divya Ghildyal, Shahnaz Haque, Basant Shubhankar, Ashok Hajare
Email(s):
pratikshakvv@rediffmail.com
DOI:
10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00543 
Address:
Pratiksha Jadhav1*, Pratima Tatke2, Divya Ghildyal3, Shahnaz Haque4, Basant Shubhankar5, Ashok Hajare6
1Krishna Institute of Pharmacy, Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth, Karad, Maharashtra, India.
2C. U. Shah College of Pharmacy, SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
3Department of Physics, JSS Academy of Technical Education, Noida, India.
4Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University, Malaysia.
5Kashi Sahu College, Seraikella, Kolhan University, Chaibasa, West Singhbhum, Jharkhand, India.
6Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Pharmacy, Palus, Maharashtra, India.
*Corresponding Author
Published In:
Volume - 19,
Issue - 8,
Year - 2026
ABSTRACT:
This study compares microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD) and conventional hydrodistillation (HD) for extracting essential oil from Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass). The influence of key MAHD parameters; microwave power (180–250 W), water-to-plant ratio (6:1–10:1mL/g), and extraction time (10–20min) was investigated to maximize oil yield and quality. Under optimized conditions (250 W, 8:1 ratio, 20min), MAHD produced a 1.32% (w/w) oil yield, higher than that obtained by HD (1.08%) and with a significant reduction in extraction time. Chemical profiling using GC–MS identified geranial (35.21%), neral (27.48%), citronellal (9.12%), and linalool (5.37%) as the predominant components, along with minor monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes contributing to aroma and biological activity. The essential oil demonstrated strong antioxidant activity in the DPPH radical-scavenging assay, with an IC50 of 48.9±1.9µg/mL, comparable to ascorbic acid (IC50 = 38.2±1.8µg/mL). The results confirm that MAHD is a rapid, efficient, and eco-friendly extraction technique, yielding high-quality C. citratus oil rich in oxygenated monoterpenes with significant antioxidant potential. The method offers advantages in terms of reduced time, energy consumption, and thermal degradation, making it suitable for sustainable applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.
Cite this article:
Pratiksha Jadhav, Pratima Tatke, Divya Ghildyal, Shahnaz Haque, Basant Shubhankar, Ashok Hajare. Comparative Study of Microwave-Assisted and Conventional Hydrodistillation of Cymbopogon citratus Essential Oil with GC–MS and Antioxidant Assessment. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2026;19(8):3855-4. doi: 10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00543
Cite(Electronic):
Pratiksha Jadhav, Pratima Tatke, Divya Ghildyal, Shahnaz Haque, Basant Shubhankar, Ashok Hajare. Comparative Study of Microwave-Assisted and Conventional Hydrodistillation of Cymbopogon citratus Essential Oil with GC–MS and Antioxidant Assessment. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2026;19(8):3855-4. doi: 10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00543 Available on: https://www.rjptonline.org/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2026-19-8-60
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