Supercritical fluid extraction of Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf.

Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf, is also known as lemon grass; its leaves produce a volatile oil upon steam extraction which is used for medicinal purposes. This work describes the supercritical fluid extraction of Cymbopogon citratus in sequential and dynamic extraction modes. Different modifiers for supercritical carbon dioxide were used for the extractions. Principal compounds in the essential oils were analyzed by GC and GC-MS and identified as neral, geraniol, geraniol, nerolic acid and geranic acid. Different chromatographic profiles were obtained when the type and proportion of modifier were changed.