Vetiveria zizanoides, also known as "vetiver grass" and as "Chrysopogon zizanioides" is a herb that belongs to the Poaceae botanical family .
Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Extract. The name describes the structure of the molecule:
- Vetiveria Zizanoides refers to the botanical species "Vetiveria Zizanoides", commonly known as vetiver. Vetiver is a perennial grass belonging to the Poaceae family, famous for its long aromatic roots.
- Root indicates that the extract is specifically extracted from the roots of the plant, which are known for their rich, earthy scent.
- Extract refers to the product obtained through the extraction of active ingredients from the plant's roots. Extracts are concentrated and contain the bioactive components of the plant.
Raw Materials and Their Functions
Roots of Vetiveria Zizanoides. The roots of this plant are rich in essential oils with a unique aromatic profile, which includes woody, earthy, and slightly smoky notes.
Industrial Production Process
- Extraction of bioactive compounds from the roots of Vetiveria Zizanoides. This can be done using solvents such as ethyl alcohol or water, depending on the solubility of the desired compounds.
- Purification. After extraction, the solution containing the bioactive compounds is purified to remove impurities and solvent residues.
- Quality Control. Vetiveria Zizanoides root extract undergoes quality testing to ensure it meets the required standards in terms of purity and concentration of bioactive compounds.
Form and Color
Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Extract, also known as vetiver extract, is typically a liquid. The color can range from light brown to dark brown, depending on the concentration and extraction method.
What it is for and where
It is used in cosmetic and skincare products, such as lotions, creams, and aromatherapy products. Vetiver extract is valued for its calming, relaxing, and regenerative properties. It is also known for its earthy and woody scent, making it a popular ingredient in perfumery and wellness products.
Cosmetics
Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.
Perfuming. Unlike fragrance, which can also contain slightly less pleasant or characteristic odours, the term perfume indicates only very pleasant fragrances. Used for perfumes and aromatic raw materials.
CAS 8016-96-4 84238-29-9
EC number 282-490-8
Medical
Two bioactive constituents, khusenic acid and khusimol, have been isolated and characterized from the roots of Vetiveria zizanoides. These compounds have shown antimicrobial activity against drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In silico analysis revealed that these compounds have good binding affinity with the bacterial DNA gyrase subunits and a favorable ADME profile, suggesting their potential as therapeutic agents (1).
Other uses
Vetiveria zizanoides, also known as vetiver grass, has been identified as a suitable candidate for the phytoremediation of heavy metals. Studies have investigated arsenic (As) accumulation, translocation, and tolerance in V. zizanoides plants exposed to different concentrations of arsenic. These plants have been found effective in removing As, especially at higher concentrations. The activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), and glutathione s-transferase (GST) increases in response to arsenic-induced oxidative stress, enhancing the plants' tolerance (2).
Another study evaluated the ability of Vetiveria zizanoides to remove antimony and other contaminants (2).
Lastly, the use of Vetiveria zizanoides in the remediation of cyanide soil contamination was examined. The findings indicated that vetiver grass might be useful in cleaning up cyanide-contaminated soils, especially in gold and silver mining sites (3).
