EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES AND GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROSCOPY (GC-MS) PROFILE OF ESSENTIAL OIL FROM LEMON PEEL

EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES AND GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROSCOPY (GC-MS) PROFILE OF ESSENTIAL OIL FROM LEMON PEEL

CHINENYE NNENNA UGWU1*, OKORO BLESSING EZINWANNE1, OKECHUKWU NNAEMEKA VICTOR3, ANTHONY AMAECHI ATTAMA2

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
  2. Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
  3. Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 17(1): 96-113   ; 2025

ABSTRACT

Citrus plants are vital sources of essential oils, both for food and for therapeutic purposes. This study aims to assess the antibacterial properties and Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy profile of essential oils derived from citrus lemon peel. Lemons were sourced from local vendors, and essential oils were extracted from the peel using steam distillation. Standard methods were employed for qualitative phytochemical analysis, while the anti-microbial activity of the crude oil extract was tested against a clinical isolate of E. coli. Chemically, the components of crude oil extract were analyzed using GC-MS. An extraction yield of 8.28 % was achieved. Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of secondary metabolites such as terpenoids, polyphenols, saponins, tannins, and flavonoids, The antimicrobial assay demonstrated that both the crude extract and positive control (metronidazole 200µg/ml) exhibited significant inhibitory activities against Escherichia coli. Out of the total essential oil, forty-five (45) chemical components were identified. Limonene having a percentage of 40.07 was the most prevalent constituent. Other constituents included: Gamma Terpinene (11.48 %), β-Pinene (10.11 %), α-Terpineol (8.50 %), α-Pinene (3.80 %), Myrecene (1.57 %), Geraniol (1.50 %), α-Terpinene (1.42 %), α-Terpinolene (1.37 %), Linalool (1.22 %), and cis-α-Bergamotene (1.09 %). The GC-MS analysis highlighted Limonene as the most abundant component in citrus lemon essential oil. This study reveals the potential antibacterial property of essential oils from C. limon peel against E. coli.

 

Keywords: Essential oil, Lemon peel, Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, Antibacterial activity.

Email of correspondence: chinenye.ugwu@unn.edu.ng,

https://doi.org/10.59493/ajopred/2025.1.11                                      ISSN: 0794-800X (print); 1596-2431 (online)

[Full text-PDF]