Evaluation of the Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Potential of Cymbopogon citratus Essential Oil in Zebrafish.

Simple Summary: Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is frequently consumed as an infusion because of its pharmacological properties, including suspected anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we examined how lemongrass essential oil, a natural product, can help protect against inflammation and damage caused by stress in cells. We used zebrafish, a small fish often used in scientific research, to determine how different amounts of lemongrass oil affected their health. Our focus was on how the oil influenced the movement of certain immune cells (neutrophils), the healing of the fishes' tail fin, and the health of their cells. We found that lemongrass oil, at all tested levels, reduced the movement of these immune cells. Interestingly, higher amounts of the oil slowed down the healing of the tail fin. We also noticed changes in the activities of some of the fishes' protective enzymes, which are important for defending their cells against damage. Our study suggests that lemongrass oil could be useful for its anti-inflammatory properties and might help protect cells from certain types of stress. These findings are valuable because they can lead to a better understanding of natural remedies and their potential use in health and disease management. This study explored the protective capacity of the essential oil (EO) of Cymbopogon citratus against oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the inflammatory potential in zebrafish. Using five concentrations of EO (0.39, 0.78, 1.56, 3.12, and 6.25 μg/mL) in the presence of 7.5 mM H2O2, we analyzed the effects on neutrophil migration, caudal fin regeneration, cellular apoptosis, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) after 96 h of exposure. A significant decrease in neutrophil migration was observed in all EO treatments compared to the control. Higher concentrations of EO (3.12 and 6.25 μg/mL) resulted in a significant decrease in caudal fin regeneration compared to the control. SOD activity was reduced at all EO concentrations, CAT activity significantly decreased at 3.12 μg/mL, and GST activity increased at 0.78 μg/mL and 1.56 μg/mL, compared to the control group. No significant changes in ROS production were detected. A reduction in cellular apoptosis was evident at all EO concentrations, suggesting that C. citratus EO exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, influences regenerative processes, and protects against oxidative stress and apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]