Dr Archita Mahajan, a nutritionist, dietitian, child care expert with a Master’s degree in Food Nutrition and Dietetics, homoeopathic pharmacist, and trained yoga teacher, has highlighted the potential health benefits of lemongrass in relation to cancer research.
She has been reportedly nominated for the Padma Bhushan national award and has been honored by the Punjab Government, Himachal Pradesh Government, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Shri Kavinder Gupta, and Chandigarh Mahajan Sabha President Shri Ram Murti Mahajan.
According to Dr Mahajan, lemongrass contains a natural compound called citral, which has shown anti-cancer properties in scientific studies. Research suggests that citral may help in slowing down or destroying certain cancer cells, including those related to skin, breast, and colon cancers, without harming healthy cells.
However, she emphasized that most of these findings are based on laboratory (in vitro) studies and animal experiments. Strong clinical evidence in humans is still required before confirming its effectiveness as a cancer treatment.
Studies indicate that lemongrass extract may induce apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells and help reduce tumor growth in controlled environments. It has shown positive results in animal studies, including colon cancer models, where it helped suppress tumor development and improved response to chemotherapy drugs like FOLFOX and Taxol.
Researchers also observed that lemongrass extract was well tolerated in experimental subjects and may even reduce chemotherapy-related side effects such as weight loss.
Despite these promising findings, experts caution that lemongrass should not be considered a replacement for chemotherapy or standard cancer treatment. Instead, it may have potential as a complementary natural support in future medical applications, pending further clinical trials.
Dr Mahajan stressed the importance of continued research to validate its safety and effectiveness in humans.
