An overview of the chemical composition and bioactivities of Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash essential oil

Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash is a perennial plant belonging to the Poaceae family, specifically subfamily Panicoideae. Originating in India, the vetiver grass is widely distributed in Asia, Africa, Central and South America. Vetiver grass has a dense network of fibrous roots which is making it useful in soil erosion. Moreover, vetiver essential oil is characterized by its viscosity and low volatility exhibiting diverse colors from pale yellow to dark brown. Its unique and deep woody odor makes it a prominent ingredient in the perfume and cosmetics industries, and a promising flavoring agent in food industry. Notably, vetiver essential oil and extracts possess various functional properties, including antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities. These biological properties make vetiver essential oil beneficial in aromatherapy being mostly used in ameliorating anxiety, depression, and insomnia. In this review, we focused on the characterisation of vetiver essential oil chemical composition as determined by various chromatographic techniques and its pharmacological potential with emphasis on antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and anxiolytic properties. Vetiver essential oil is a promising natural product with various biological properties, especially with anti-inflammatory potency that requires further and more in-depth investigations. It has been shown that the chemical composition of vetiver essential oil is relatively complex and needs advanced and suitable analytical techniques. Research in extraction techniques, chemical characterisation, biological activities, and nano-encapsulation are future directions worth to follow to assess the potential of the vetiver essential oil and extracts as functional ingredient.