Abstract

Citrus essential oils were extraction from hydro distillation technique yielding Citrus oil with reasonable yield. Phytochemical screening of all five Citrus oils showed that alkaloids, tannins, sterols, terpenoids, saponoins, flavonoids were present (50-80%). GC/MS analysis showed highest percentage of limonene (58-89%) in Citrus oils. Antioxidant study revealed that Citrus peel oils have strong scavenging activity (83%-91%). Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by agar well method against eight common pathogens depicted marked antimicrobial potential especially tangerine (4.9-1.9 cm inhibition zones) and grapefruit oil (4.5-1.2 cm) inhibition zones. The studies emphasized the therapeutic and commercial utilization of Citrus peel essential oils as food preservatives, phytomedicine and antioxidant agent.

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