A Green Extraction Method to Achieve the Highest Yield of Limonin and Hesperidin from Lime Peel Powder (Citrus aurantifolia)

Abstract

Green extraction is aimed at reducing energy consumption by using renewable plant sources and environmentally friendly bio-solvents. Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) is a rich source of flavonoids (e.g., hesperidin) and limonoids (e.g., limonin). Manufacturing of lime products (e.g., lime juice) yields a considerable amount of lime peel as food waste that should be comprehensively exploited. The aim of this study was to develop a green and simple extraction method to acquire the highest yield of both limonin and hesperidin from the lime peel. The study method included ethanolic-aqueous extraction and variable factors, i.e., ethanol concentrations, pH values of solvent, and extraction temperature. The response surface methodology was used to optimize extraction conditions. The concentrations of limonin and hesperidin were determined by using UHPLC-MS/MS. Results showed that the yields of limonin and hesperidin significantly depended on ethanol concentrations and extraction temperature, while pH value had the least effect. The optimal extraction condition with the highest amounts of limonin and hesperidin was 80% ethanol at pH 7, 50 °C, which yields 2.072 and 3.353 mg/g of limonin and hesperidin, respectively. This study illustrates a green extraction process using food waste, e.g., lime peel, as an energy-saving source and ethanol as a bio-solvent to achieve the highest amount of double bioactive compounds.

Metabolomic Analysis of Phytochemical Compounds from Ethanolic Extract of Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) Peel and Its Anti-Cancer Effects against Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

“…The IC 50 level estimated from the statistic is 503.004 μg/mL (at 72 h, 95% CI). Upon considering concentrations of compounds only, the concentrations of hesperidin and limonin in lime peel extract at IC 50 levels are 0.2868 μg/mL and 0.0139 μg/mL, respectively (measured by the method following our previous study [ 18 ]). It is 580 and 13,628 times less than the IC 50 of pure compounds of hesperidin and limonin, respectively.…”

“…Lime peel powder was extracted following the optimum condition method from a previous study [ 18 ]. Lime peel powder was extracted with 80% ethanol in water at pH 7 in a 50 °C shaking water bath (Memmert GmBH Co., Büchenbach, KG, Germany) at a shaking speed level of 3.5 for 100 min.…”

“…The concentration of hesperidin and limonin in the dissolving extract was quantitatively measured by using LC-MS/MS-based method as described previously [ 18 ]. The method has been validated with satisfactory intra- and inter-day precision, linearity, and recovery [ 18 ].…”

“…Previous studies showed that hesperidin or limonin could inhibit cell proliferation and invasion of liver cancer cells with wild-type p53 [ 16 , 17 ]. Recently, we developed a green extraction method to achieve hesperidin-limonin-rich lime peel ethanolic extract [ 18 ]. However, the metabolomics profile of phytochemicals of the lime peel ethanolic extract and its anti-cancer effect on p53-mutated liver cancer cells (PLC/PRF/5) were unknown.…”

Optimization of Phytochemical-Rich Citrus maxima Albedo Extract Using Response Surface Methodology

“…It was previously shown that the concentration of ethanol (as the extraction solvent), pH of the solvent, and extraction temperature greatly impacted the extraction yields of flavonoids and limonoids, such as hesperidin and limonin, respectively, in lime ( C. aurantifolia ) peel [ 4 ]. The extraction yield of hesperidin was increased when the ethanol concentration (as percentage of ethanol in water) was increased in aqueous ethanolic solvents ranging from 60–80% [ 4 ]. However, the extraction yield declined in absolute ethanol [ 4 ].…”