Exploring the Antimicrobial Properties of Lemon: A Comparative Analysis of Peel, Seed, and Pulp

Aim: Lemons are a treasure trove in nature, belonging to the Rutaceae family and rich in vitamin C, as well as various macro and micronutrients. They are widely known for boosting immunity and can potentially be used as a natural source of medication. D-limonene is one of the main bioactive compounds present in lemons, and it is responsible for the refreshing fragrance of lemons. The study aims to identify whether the waste from lemons can be used as potential nutraceuticals or functional foods

Study Design: We took five different species for comparative antibacterial studies from Citrus species those are C. aurantifolia, C. limetta, C. sinensis, C.reticulata, and C. maxima.

Place and Duration of Study: Biotechnology lab, Techno India University, Kolkata. The duration of this study was 1 year.

Methodology: In this comparative study, the major parts (pulp, seed, and peel) of a fruit were used for the experiments. It is important to reduce the amount of waste in the environment by creating creative and cost-effective, eco-friendly waste management techniques. The antibacterial potential against E. coli and S. aureus was thoroughly measured using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.

Results: The results show that in the case of E. coli inhibition , the peels of C. reticulate (58.33 ±0.4 mm), the seeds of C. aurantifolia (58.33 ±0.4 mm), and the pulp of C. aurantifolia (55.33 ±2.94 mm) perform well compared to other samples. In the case of S. aureus inhibition, the peels of C. limetta (51±1.41mm), the seeds of C. aurantiifolia (58.33 ±0.4 mm), and the pulp of C. aurantifolia (49±2.82mm) perform well compared to other samples.

Conclusion: Hence, the results indicate that PEELs can be potential antimicrobial agents and have discovered that various parts of the citrus fruit exhibit a wide range of antimicrobial effects against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.