Lemongrass contains several flavonoids that function as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. In their antioxidant capacity, flavonoids prevent damage to cells that can lead to long-term diseases such as heart disease or arthritis. One flavonoid in lemongrass called luteolin has the ability to slow the growth and hasten the death of certain types of cancer cells, according to research published in the August 2012 issue of the “European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences.” Luteolin also has such strong anti-inflammatory abilities that it may be able to treat some symptoms of multiple sclerosis, as well as lung infections or acute lung injury. The essential oils in lemongrass add to these benefits, as they also slow the growth of cancer cells, especially in liver and breast cancers and leukemia, according to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.