Resumo

RODRIGUEZ CHANFRAU, Jorge E; FUENTES, Leticia; PARDO RUIZ, Zenia  e  GARMA, Mayda. Estabilidad de extractos fluidos al 70 % de Cymbopogon citratus. Rev Cubana Plant Med [online]. 2003, vol.8, n.2. ISSN 1028-4796.

The stability of 6 batches of fluid extracts of Cymbopogon citratus 70 % was studied. The behavior of the samples exposed to heat, light and extreme pH and in shelf life was assessed. The organoleptic characteristics and the content of citral, which is the largest component in the essential oil present in the extract, were analyzed in time in every case. The results showed that as the time of exposure of the sample to heat was higher, the initial concentration of citral tended to decrease at about 40 %. Light also produced degradation of citral that dropped by approximately 30 %. The studies on the behavior of the samples under extreme conditions of pH proved that in both cases, acid and basic pH, citral suffered a total degradation. The studies conducted by the shelf life method demonstrated that the extracts only fulfill the quality parameters up to the 3rd month provided that they are kept in cool places and protected from light.

Palavras-chave : Plants, Medicinal [chemistry]; Plants, Medicinal [physiology]; Pharmacognosy; Quality Control; Chromatography.