Phytochemical Screening, Therapeutic Benefits, and Adverse Effects of Citrus aurantifolia - A Review

Abstract

Key lime or Citrus aurantifolia has been well known for its functions, either as food or medicine. This fruit has a greenish-yellow color with a sour and bitter taste and distributed initially from East Asia. This review summarizes the phytochemical screening, therapeutic effects, and adverse effects of key lime. Most parts of the plant contain phytochemicals, such as phenols, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, and alkaloids, with other varying compounds like saponin, tannin, anthraquinone, glycosides, and carbohydrates that may be due to the country where the plant is grown, or the extraction methods. Some studies have been conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effects of key lime, including antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer or antitumor, anti-cholesterol, anti-larvae, anti-mosquito, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anticholinesterase. Key lime also may cause some adverse effects, such as phytophotodermatitis. It may lead to toxicity manifested in conditions such as edema, inflammation, or necrosis in some organs in the body, an increase in lymphocytes & liver enzymes, and a decrease in hemoglobin.

Antibacterial Activity of Lemon Basil (Ocimum citriodorum) and Key Lime (Citrus aurantifolia S.) Extract Combination on Streptococcus mutants

“…It is citrus family fruit that has greenish-yellow colors and tastes sour-bitter. It originally came from East Asia [21]. The richness of vitamin and strong citrus aroma has long been used in cuisine to block the disturbing aroma from other food [22].…”

“…Key lime has many outstanding properties such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. Many studies have proven that it has anticancer or antitumor, anti-cholesterol, anti-larvae, anti-mosquito, antidiabetic, and anticholinesterase [21]. The high content of d-limonene gives key lime a remarkable radical-scavenging activity [24].…”

“…For key lime itself, the phytochemical properties that have been known for this fruit are phenols, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, and terpenoids. Saponin glycosides, anthraquinone, tannin, and carbohydrates are also some other components found in key lime [21]. The major constituent found in key lime D-limonene, along with α-pinene, sabinene, and β-pinene.…”

Geltonųjų Ir Žaliųjų Citrinų Kokybinis Vertinimas Pagal Antioksidacinį Aktyvumą

“…Geltonosios citrinos sultyse askorbo rūgšties yra 0,72g/l, o žaliosios 0,35g/l [3]. Citrina išsiskiria savo vitaminų kiekiu ir antioksidacinėmis savybėmis, dėl kurių citrinos vaisius pasižymi anticholesteroliniu, uždegimo slopinamuoju, priešvėžiniu, antimikrobiniu bei insekticidiniu poveikiu [4].…”