What are the Composition and Properties of Lemon Leaf Essential Oil?

Essential oils are in high demand due to many of their properties compared to artificial preservatives, in addition to their fragrance characteristics. This demand from users is increasing day by day.

Essential oils are found in citrus lemon leaves. Essential oils contain volatile components. These volatile components have antioxidant and antibacterial effects.

Components within essential oils are identified using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.

The antioxidant property of the essential oil is determined using the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test method. With this antioxidant property, it has been determined that the essential oil has inhibitory effects on certain bacteria at different concentrations.

Lemon leaf essence has excellent free radical scavenging effects due to its antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. At the same time, as the essence concentration increases, the antioxidant effect of the essential oil also increases.

Studies on lemon leaf essence show that the highest antioxidant effect occurs with 10 mg/mL of essential oil.

The antimicrobial effects of lemon leaf essence stem from the chemical properties of the Linalool compound within the essence.

What are the Total Phenolic Compound Properties in Lemon Leaf Essence?

Phenolic compounds found in lemon leaf essential oils exhibit specific properties in free radical reactions. They have a tendency to donate electrons in these reactions. Through this electron-donating tendency, they demonstrate their antioxidant effects.

For Ascorbic Acid, a synthetic antioxidant, the higher the DPPH consumption value, the lower the IC50 value. Among compounds with a low IC50 value, Ascorbic Acid exhibits the best antioxidant effects.

Ascorbic Acid is also known as Vitamin C. Commercially, it is available in crystal and powder forms. Crystal and powder forms can be used in tablet production; however, the powder form is used in flour production.

Which Chemicals are in the Composition of Lemon Leaf?

Limonene: It is one of the main components of lemon leaf essential oil. Limonene is a monoterpene hydrocarbon responsible for the characteristic scent of lemon.

β-Pinene: This is another monoterpene hydrocarbon and an important component of lemon leaf essential oil.

Linalool: Another significant component found in lemon leaf essential oil. Linalool has a pleasant scent and is frequently used in cosmetic products.

Geraniol: An alcohol compound also found in the composition of lemon leaf essential oil. It provides a pleasant floral scent and is widely used in the cosmetics and perfumery industry.

Citral: It is a key component of lemon essential oil and creates the characteristic lemon scent.