Lemon peel is obtained from the fresh ripe fruit of Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. (C medico var. limon Linn.), belonging to family Rutaceae.
LEMON PEEL
Synonym
Fructus Limonis.
Biological Source
Lemon peel is obtained from the fresh ripe fruit of Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. (C medico
var. limon Linn.), belonging to family Rutaceae.
Geographical Source
It is cultivated in California. West Indies, Italy, Spain,
Sicily, Portugal, Florida, California, Jamaica, and Australia; grown all over
India, particularly in home gardens and small-sized orchards.
Collection
Lemon plant is a small, 3–5 m high, evergreen thorny tree
with shining leaves. Fruits are collected before their green colour changes to
yellow in January, August, and November. The outer dark yellow peel is removed
with a sharp knife. Dried lemon peel is spiral, 20 cm long, 1.5 cm wide, 2–3 mm
thick, outer surface is rough and yellow, inner surface is pithy and white.
Odour is strong and aromatic, taste is aromatic and bitter.
Chemical Constituents
Lemon peel contains volatile oil (2.5%), vitamin C,
hesperidin and other flavone glycosides, mucilage, pectin and calcium oxalate.
The important constituents of the volatile oil are limonene (90%), citronellal,
geranyl acetate, α-pinene, camphene, linalool,
terpineol, methyl heptenone, octyl and nonyl aldehydes, γ-terpinene, β-pinene, neral, and geranial.
The peels also contain flavonoids eriocitrin, epigenin,
luteolin, chrysoeriol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, limocitrin, limocitrol,
isolimocitrol, hesperidin; coumarins scopoletin and umbelliferone; sinapic acid
and β-coumaric acid.
Uses
Lemon peel is used as a flavouring agent, perfumery,
stomachic, and carminative. The oil, externally, is a strong rubefacient and
if taken internally in small doses has stimulating and carminative properties.
Marketed Products
It is one of the ingredients of the preparations known as
Protein shampoo (Himalaya Drug Company), Panch Nimba churna (Zaipa
Pharmaceuticals), and Ultra Doux conditioner (Garnier).
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