Chemical and Nutritional Compounds of Different Parts of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf.) Cultivated in Temperate Climate of Poland

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf.) is a perennial plant indigenous to semi-tropical regions of Asia and cultivated in other semi-tropical countries. The present study aimed to examine the key chemical constituents of various parts of lemongrass cultivated in the temperate climate of Poland. The content of essential oil and its composition were determined in 4 plant parts: leaves (part C), overground shoots (part B), underground shoots (part A), and roots (part R). Moreover, the content of dry weight, chlorophyll, polyphenols and macro- and microelements was determined in the edible parts (excluding roots). The essential oil from the aerial part predominantly contained neral (> 30%) and geranial (> 40%), which is consistent with the data reported in literature; the main component of essential oil (EO) from the underground part was elemol (65%); interestingly, such a high concentration of it was found for the first time. The concentration of chlorophyll was found to be higher in leaves, as compared to parts B and A. The highest level of potassium, magnesium, zinc and sodium was found in part A while of calcium and copper in leaves. The quality of lemongrass raw materials grown in temperate climates did not differ significantly from those obtained in warmer regions. The study findings confirmed the usefulness of leaves as a raw material for the preparation of infusions (higher concentration of pigments, polyphenols and EO) and of near-ground parts of a plant as a culinary material (a higher content of macroelements at lower concentrations of green pigments and dry weight).