Bhutika
Cymbopogon citratus
Bhutika (Cymbopogon citratus) is a plant drug, also called Bhustrina and Gamdhatrina. Primarily used in external and fumigation applications traditionally.
| Botanical name | Cymbopogon citratus |
|---|---|
| Identity source | Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol. V: KATTRNA (Whole Plant) |
| Also called | Trachyspermum ammi (reported in the literature) Cymbopogon martinii (attribution recorded without a cited source) Cymbopogon jwarancusa (attribution recorded without a cited source) Cymbopogon schoenanthus (attribution recorded without a cited source) |
| Family | Poaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Poales |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 2705275 · Wikidata Q33913 · NCBI Taxonomy 66014 |
| Sanskrit | भूस्तृण (bhūstṛṇa) |
|---|---|
| Hindi | गंधत्रिण (gaṃdhatriṇa) |
| Tamil | கர்ப்பூரப்புல் |
Sources: Flowers of India, Lemon Grass page (Cymbopogon citratus): 'Hindi: गंधत्रिण Gandhatrina'.; Flowers of India, Lemon Grass page (Cymbopogon citratus): 'Tamil: கர்ப்பூரப்புல் Karppurappul'.; Wisdom Library 'Local Names of Plants and Drugs': 'Bhustrina in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf'; Flowers of India gives Sanskrit Bhustrina; Śabda-Sāgara: 'Bhūstṛṇa — a fragrant grass'.. How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2015 to 2024, every one with a DOI.
- 6Other clinical studies and reviews
- 6Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Lemongrass |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Katu, Tikta | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Tikshna | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Ushna | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kashayam (decoction), Swarasa (fresh juice), Lepa (paste), Dhupana (fumigation)
Standard Dosage: 2-4g powder twice daily; 10-20ml juice; 30-60ml decoction. Primarily used in external and fumigation applications traditionally.
Optimal Timing: Fumigation as needed for environmental purification; internal use before meals with warm water; external paste as needed
Storage: Airtight, light-protected containers. Essential oils in amber glass with minimal headspace. Temperature below 25°C. Volatile components dissipate in open storage.
Synergistic Combinations
- With Guggulu for Dhupana (fumigation) formulations
- With Neem for antimicrobial and insecticidal applications
- With Vacha for aromatic and cognitive formulations
- With Tulsi for respiratory health
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Other clinical studies and reviews6
- 2024. Ethnopharmacology, chemical composition and functions of Cymbopogon citratusChinese herbal medicines. PMID 39072200 · doi:10.1016/j.chmed.2023.07.002
- 2024. Antiviral, Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Anticancer Activity of Plant Materials Derived from Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf SpeciesPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 38931371 · doi:10.3390/ph17060705
- 2024. Effectiveness of Lemon Verbena (Cymbopogon citratus) in Oral Candidiasis: A Systematic ReviewClinical, cosmetic and investigational dentistry. PMID 39286661 · doi:10.2147/CCIDE.S478181
- 2017. Use of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil in food preservation: Recent advances and future perspectivesCritical reviews in food science and nutrition. PMID 26147358 · doi:10.1080/10408398.2015.1016140
- 2015. Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and biological activities of Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf extractsChinese journal of natural medicines. PMID 25986281 · doi:10.1016/S1875-5364(15)30023-6
- 2015. Cymbopogon species; ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and the pharmacological importanceMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 25915460 · doi:10.3390/molecules20057438
Laboratory and animal studies6
- 2024. Cymbopogon citratus showing nematicidal activity against Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeriRevista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria. PMID 39774742 · doi:10.1590/S1984-29612024079
- 2023. Cytoprotective Properties of Citronella Oil (Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendl.) and Lemongrass Oil (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf) through Attenuation of Senescent-Induced Chemotherapeutic Agent Doxorubicin on Vero and NIH-3T3 CellsAsian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP. PMID 37247287 · doi:10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.5.1667
- 2023. Acute and Subchronic Toxicity Assessment of Conventional Soxhlet Cymbopogon citratus Leaves Extracts in Sprague-Dawley RatsJournal of toxicology. PMID 38111630 · doi:10.1155/2023/8575741
- 2022. In silico Study Phytosterol Cymbopogon citratus and Curcuma longa as Inhibitor Agent 3C-Like Protease SARS-CoV-2Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS. PMID 36098090 · doi:10.3923/pjbs.2022.867.874
- 2020. Cymbopogon Citratus Functionalized Green Synthesis of CuO-Nanoparticles: Novel Prospects as Antibacterial and Antibiofilm AgentsBiomolecules. PMID 31979040 · doi:10.3390/biom10020169
- 2015. Polysaccharides from Cymbopogon citratus with antitumor and immunomodulatory activityPharmaceutical biology. PMID 25255928 · doi:10.3109/13880209.2014.911921
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.