Citrus Aurantium Essential Oil Research Articles

Enhancing Antibacterial Efficacy: Synergistic Effects of Citrus aurantium Essential Oil Mixtures against Escherichia coli for Food Preservation

Essential oils (EOs) from various medicinal and aromatic plants are known for their diverse biological activities, including their antimicrobial effects. Citrus aurantium EO is traditionally used for therapeutic benefits due to its high content of bioactive compounds. Therefore, this study focuses on its potential use as a food preservative by investigating the combined antibacterial properties of EOs from leaves (EO1), flowers (EO2), and small branches (EO3) of Citrus aurantium against six bacterial strains by the agar disk diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) methods. The chemical compositions of the EOs were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and revealed the presence of numerous compounds responsible for their antimicrobial properties. The MIC values for the EOs were 3.12 mg/mL, 4.23 mg/mL, and 1.89 mg/mL, for EO1, EO2 and EO3, respectively, while the MBC values were 12.5 mg/mL, 6.25 mg/mL, and 6.25 mg/mL, respectively. A simplex centroid design was created to analyse the effect of the individual and combined EOs against E. coli. The combined EOs showed enhanced antibacterial activity compared to the individual oils, suggesting a synergistic effect (e.g., trial 9 with an MIC of 0.21 mg/mL), allowing the use of lower EO concentrations and reducing potential negative effects on food flavour and aroma. Additionally, the practical application of investigated EOs (at concentrations twice the MIC) was investigated in raw chicken meat stored at 4 °C for 21 days. The EOs, individually and in combination, effectively extended the shelf life of the meat by inhibiting bacterial growth (total bacterial count of less than 1 × 104 CFU/g in the treated samples compared to 7 × 107 CFU/g in the control on day 21 of storage). The study underlines the potential of C. aurantium EOs as natural preservatives that represent a sustainable and effective alternative to synthetic chemicals in food preservation.

Chemical constituents and larvicidal activity of the microencapsulated essential oil of Citrus aurantium L. against Aedes aegypti

This study aimed to evaluate the chemical profile and larvicidal activity of the microencapsulated essential oil (EO) of Citrus aurantium L. against Aedes aegypti. The barks of C. aurantium were collected in São Luís-MA. The EO was extracted by hydrodistillation at 100°C for 3h, with chemical characterization through Gas Chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Encapsulation of the EO was performed by ionic gelling. To quantify the total phenolic content of the EO, the Folin-Ciocalteu spectrophotometric method was applied. Then, the lethality of the EO against Aedes aegypti was evaluated, and the LC50 for the action of the EO was calculated using the Probit method. The major constituents found in the EO of C. aurantium were: (-)-Terpinen-4-ol (32, 56%) and Caryophyllene oxide (23.52%). The larvicidal activity of the EO showed a LC50 of 3.589 mg L-1. The results indicate that the evaluated EO is composed of substances that provide a good larvicidal effect, revealing its efficiency in combating and controlling Aedes aegypti.

Kinetic analysis of aroma compound release from Citrus aurantium essential oil-casein-phospholipid-nanocomposites

In this study, Citrus aurantium essential oil encapsulated in casein-phospholipid nanocomposites (CAEO–CS–PL-NCs) was prepared and evaluated for controlled-release capacity of aroma compounds. The particle size of the nanocomposites was strongly influenced by the phospholipid concentration in the nanocomposites. The Avrami and Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic models were used to analyze the aroma release kinetics of freeze-dried CAEO–CS–PL-NCs (FD-CAEO–CS–PL-NCs) at different temperatures and relative humidities. FD-CAEO–CS–PL-NCs were stored for various times with tea leaves to evaluate their potential for making scented teas. The Avrami kinetic analysis indicated that the release of aroma compounds from FD-CAEO–CS–PL-NCs conformed to diffusion-limited, or first-order kinetics, depending on the temperature and relative humidity. The Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic analysis indicated that the release of aroma compounds from FD-CAEO–CS–PL-NCs involved three release mechanisms, Fickian diffusion, non-Fickian diffusion and the erosive mechanism. The release mechanism involved varied depending on different conditions and different aroma compounds, and at low temperature and relative humidity effective controlled release of aroma compounds was achieved, resulting from intermolecular interactions with the casein micelles. FD-CAEO–CS–PL-NCs showed significantly sensory scores increasing effect of scented tea. The findings will facilitate future developments in the formulation of scented teas, by incorporating aromatic essential oils from fruits and flowers, in the form of essential oil-casein-phospholipid nanocomposites.

The Anxiolytic Potential of Citrus Aurantium Essential Oil: A focused critical review

Anxiety disorders rank among the most common mental health issues globally, prompting extensive research into both traditional and alternative treatments. In this context, Citrus aurantium essential oil (bitter orange) has attracted scientific interest due to its anxiolytic properties. This essential oil's pharmacological effects are attributed to its active components, which interact with key neurotransmitter systems, including the serotoninergic and GABAergic, to exert anxiolytic, antidepressant, and sedative effects. Recent studies have explored these properties in various models, demonstrating Citrus aurantium's ability to alleviate anxiety-like behaviors in animal models and manage preoperative anxiety in humans. Despite promising preliminary findings, research on Citrus aurantium essential oil's efficacy and safety in anxiety treatment presents considerable variability in study design, methodologies, and outcomes. This review aims to synthesize current evidence on the anxiolytic effects of Citrus aurantium essential oil, highlighting its potential therapeutic applications and the need for further research to clarify its efficacy and safety in clinical settings. By critically evaluating existing literature, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of Citrus aurantium essential oil as a potential non-pharmacological intervention for anxiety disorders, underscoring the importance of continued investigation in this promising area of complementary and alternative medicine.

Identification of Volatile Molecules and Bioactivity of Gruyt Craft Beer Enriched with Citrus aurantium var. dulcis L. Essential Oil.

In this work, for the first time, a gruyt beer and the same one after the addition of Citrus aurantium essential oil (AEO), were investigated to determine the composition of the volatile fraction. The applied analytical techniques, such as Head Space/Solid Phase Microextraction-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HS/SPME-GC-MS) and Proton Transfer Reaction-Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS), allowed us to identify the content of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). From the comparison between the two beer samples, it showed that the one after the addition of AEO was particularly richened in limonene and a series of minor terpene compounds. AEO was also characterized by GC/MS analysis and the results showed that limonene reached 95%. Confocal microscopy was used to look at riboflavin autofluorescence in yeast cells. It was found that beer with AEO had twice as much fluorescence intensity as the control. A spectrophotometric analysis of total polyphenols, tannins, and flavonoids, and a bioactivity screening, including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-Azinobis-(3-Ethylbenzthiazolin-6-Sulfonic Acid) (ABTS) radical scavenger, chelating, reducing, antiglycative ones, were also carried out. Moreover, the tolerability of the tested samples in human H69 cholangiocytes and the cytoprotection towards the tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBOOH)-induced oxidative damage were evaluated. Under our experimental conditions, the beers were found to be able to scavenge DPPH and ABTS radicals and chelate iron ions, despite weak antiglycative and reducing properties. The tested samples did not affect the viability of H69 cholangiocytes up to the highest concentrations; moreover, no signs of cytoprotection against the damage induced by tBOOH were highlighted. Adding AEO to beer resulted in a moderate enhancement of its DPPH scavenging and chelating abilities, without improvements in the other assays. Conversely, AEO and its major compound limonene were ineffective when assessed at the concentrations added to beer. This evidence suggests that the addition of AEO may enhance the organoleptic features of the beer and slightly potentiate some of its bioactivities.

Comparative study of the chemical composition and the antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities of Citrus aurantium essential oils extracted by conventional hydrodistillation and microwave-assisted hydrodistillation methods from Algeria

This study aims to evaluate the antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and antioxidant properties of essential oils obtained from the peels of Citrus aurantium and extracted with MAHD and HD. The various compounds detected include limonene and linalol. In this context, we used the methods of bovine serum albumin anti-denaturation to evaluate the anti-inflammatory property and glucose uptake by yeast cells to evaluate the antidiabeticone. The results of evaluating the antidiabetic and the anti-inflammatory activities indicate that the essential oil extracted by MAHD has greater efficiency compared to the essential oil extracted by HD. Besides, the antioxidant potential of the essential oil was evaluated using the DPPH free radical scavenging, reducing power, and β-carotene/linoleic acid tests. Results show that the essential oil extracted by HD presents a high antioxidant activity. Moreover, essential oil is a potential source of important bioactive compounds and of possible synergistic effects among its components. To support the phytochemical analysis, an attempt was made to identify some potential compounds from Citrus aurantium essential oils that can inhibit important drug targets like bovine serum albumin (BSA), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and tubulin using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation methods.

Phytochemistry and Biological Activities of Essential Oils from Six Aromatic Medicinal Plants with Cosmetic Properties.

In this work, the chemical composition and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the essential oils (EOs) of six species-Laurus nobilis, Chamaemelum nobile, Citrus aurantium, Pistacia lentiscus, Cedrus atlantica, and Rosa damascena-have been studied. Phytochemical screening of these plants revealed the presence of primary metabolites, namely, lipids, proteins, reducing sugars, and polysaccharides, and also secondary metabolites such as tannins, flavonoids, and mucilages. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus. The yields are between 0.06 and 4.78% (mL/100 g). The analysis of the chemical composition carried out by GC-MS showed the presence of 30 to 35 compounds and represent between 99.97% and 100% of the total composition of EOs, with a variation in the chemical composition detected at the level of the majority compounds between these species. Indeed, in the EO of Laurus nobilis, 1,8-cineole (36.58%) is the major component. In Chamaemelum nobile EO, the most abundant compound is angelylangelate (41.79%). The EO of Citrus aurantium is rich in linalool (29.01%). The EO of Pistacia lentiscus is dominated by 3-methylpentylangelate (27.83%). The main compound of Cedrus atlantica is β-himachalene (40.19%), while the EO of Rosa damascenaa flowers is rich in n-nonadecane (44.89%). The analysis of the similarity between the EOs of the plants studied by ACH and ACP showed that the chemical composition of the EOs makes it possible to separate these plants into three groups: the first represented by Chamaemelum nobile, because it is rich in oxygenated monoterpenes, the second defined Cedrus atlantica and Rosa damascena, which are rich in sesquiterpenes, and the third gathers Pistacia lentiscus, Laurus nobilis and Citrus aurantium, which are composed of oxygenated sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes (these three species are very close). The study of the antioxidant activity showed that all the EOs tested have a high capacity for scavenging free radicals from DPPH. The EOs of Laurus nobilis and Pistacia lentiscus showed the highest activity, 76.84% and 71.53%, respectively, followed by Cedrus atlantica EO (62.38%) and Chamaemelum nobile (47.98%) then Citrus aurantium EO (14.70%). Antimicrobial activity EO was tested against eight bacterial strains and eight fungal strains; the results showed that EOs exhibit significant bactericidal and fungicidal activities against all the microorganisms tested, of which the MICs of the bacterial strains start with 5 mg/mL, while the MICs of the fungal strains are between 0.60 mg/mL and 5 mg/mL. Thus, these EOs rich in antimicrobial and antioxidant components can serve as a natural alternative; this confirms their use as additives in cosmetics.

The effect of cognitive-behavioral counseling with or without Citrus aurantium essential oil on sleep quality in pregnant women: a randomized controlled trial.

Sleep disorder is very common during pregnancy. Non-pharmacological treatments are a priority to improve the sleep pattern. This study aimed to determine the effect of cognitive-behavioral counseling with or without Citrus aurantium essential oil on sleep quality (primary outcome) and anxiety and quality of life (secondary outcomes). This randomized controlled trial was performed on 75 pregnant women in Tabriz, Iran. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. The first intervention group received 8 sessions of cognitive-behavioral counseling and aromatherapy with Citrus aurantium essential oil 15-20min before bedtime. The second intervention group received cognitive-behavioral counseling and aromatherapy with placebo and the control group received only routine prenatal care. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Pregnancy-Specific Quality of life Questionnaire, and Pregnancy-Specific Anxiety Scale were completed before and after intervention. After the intervention based on ANCOVA test and by adjusting the baseline score, the mean score of anxiety in the intervention group 1 (AMD: - 4.54; 95% CI - 6.79 to - 2.28) and intervention group 2 (AMD: - 3.30; 95% CI - 5.60 to - 0.97) was significantly lower than the control group. Also, the mean score of quality of life in intervention group 1 (AMD: 2.55; 95% CI 0.45-4.65) and intervention group 2 (AMD: 2.72; 95% CI 0.60-4.83) was significantly higher than the control group, but there was no statistically significant difference between the study groups in terms of sleep quality (P > 0.05). Also, there was no statistically significant difference between the two intervention groups after the intervention in terms of anxiety (P = 0.379) and quality of life (P = 0.996). Cognitive-behavioral counseling reduced anxiety and improved quality of life. However, further trials are required to reach a definitive conclusion. Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT): IRCT20120718010324N63. Date of registration: 4/10/2020. URL: https://en.irct.ir/user/trial/54986/view; Date of first registration: 18/10/2020.

Encapsulated Bio-insecticide from Citrus aurantium (Rutaceae) Essential Oil and Pectin and Potential for the Control of the Lesser Grain Borer Rhyzopertha dominica (Bostrichidae)

Encapsulated Bio-insecticide from Citrus aurantium (Rutaceae) Essential Oil and Pectin and Potential for the Control of the Lesser Grain Borer Rhyzopertha dominica (Bostrichidae)

The Impact of Aromatherapy with Citrus Aurantium Essential Oil on Sleep Quality in Pregnant Women with Sleep Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

ABSTRACTBackground: Sleep disorders are so prevalent during pregnancy. The present study was conducted to investigate the impact of aromatherapy with Citrus aurantium essential oil on sleep quality in pregnant women with sleep disordersMethods: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 68 pregnant women in their 28-34 weeks of pregnancy who sufferred sleep disorders and referred to Jiroft health centers in 2021 (January-June). Those meeting the inclusion criteria were divided into the intervention and placebo groups, using random sequence generated through the randomization website. They were given five drops of Citrus aurantium essential oil and the placebo twice a day, every day for one month in the form of facemasks which they inhaled through normal breathing for 20 minutes. Sleep quality was assessed before the intervention and one month after the start of the intervention. The demographic questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used for collecting the data. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 24 software. The Mann–Whitney-U, Wilcoxon and fisher exact tests were carried out. P-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Before the intervention, the mean and standard deviation scores of pregnant women’s sleep quality in the intervention (9.89±3.00) and placebo (8.12±2.53) groups were not significantly different (P=0.10). One month after the intervention, the score was significantly lower in the intervention group (4.37±1.85) than the placebo group (8.48±2.62) (P<0.001).Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, it seems that aromatherapy with Citrus aurantium essential oil enhances the sleep quality in pregnant women with sleep disorders, so it can be used to diminish sleep disorders in these women.Trial Registration Number: IRCT20200512047414N1.

Essential Oil of Citrus aurantium L. Leaves: Composition, Antioxidant Activity, Elastase and Collagenase Inhibition

Sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.), which belongs to the Rutaceae family, is used around the Mediterranean Sea for ornamental and agronomic purposes as a rootstock for the Citrus species. Peels and flowers, the most-used parts of Citrus aurantium L., have constituted a largely promising area of research for their many medicinal properties. However, the leaves of sour orange have not yet been studied extensively. The present study aimed at investigating the essential oil composition of sour orange leaves grown in Algeria and determining their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Essential oil composition of leaves harvested before flowering was determined by GC-MS. Total phenol content, antioxidant activities (DPPH) and elastase and collagenase inhibition were assessed. Forty-three volatile compounds were detected in essential oil from leaves with a yield of 0.57%. The major compounds were linalool, linalyl acetate and α-Terpineol. Results show that the total phenol content and antioxidant activity of essential oil are low, 3.48 ± 0.10 mg/g (Gallic Acid Equivalent/EO) and IC50 &gt; 10,000 mg·L−1, respectively. In contrast, EO present an interesting level of elastase and collagenase inhibition. This result emphasizes the potential interest of the essential oil of sour orange mainly in relation to its anti-aging mechanism.

Effects of Aromatherapy With Citrus Aurantium Lavender on Sexual Function of Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of aromatherapy with Citrus aurantium Lavender on the sexual function of postmenopausal women. Materials and methods : A randomized controlled trial with single-blind design was conducted on eighty postmenopausal women in Ahvaz, Iran from January to December 2019. The women were randomly assigned to the Citrus aurantium group (n=40) and placebo group (n=40). The intervention group received two drops of Citrus aurantium essential oil twice a day, for four consecutive days a week, for four weeks as inhalation. Similarly, placebo was received by the control group. Results: The results of this study revealed that in the intervention group, the FSFI total score and all of its dimensions were significantly improved compared to the control group. Conclusion: Aromatherapy using Citrus aurantium can be used as an alternative or complementary method for improvement of sexual function in postmenopausal women. It is recommended that the postmenopausal women suffering from sexual dysfunction be informed on the aromatherapy by Citrus aurantium essential oil.

Nanoliposomes containing limonene and limonene-rich essential oils as novel larvicides against malaria and filariasis mosquito vectors

BackgroundMosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and encephalitis are still the cause of several hundred thousand deaths annually. The excessive use of chemical insecticides for transmission control has led to environmental pollution and widespread resistance in mosquitoes. Botanical insecticides' efficacies improvement has thus received considerable attention recently.MethodsThe larvicidal effects of three essential oils from the Citrus family and limonene (their major ingredient) were first investigated against malaria and filariasis mosquito vectors. An attempt was then made to improve their efficacies by preparing nanoliposomes containing each of them.ResultsThe larvicidal effect of nanoformulated forms was more effective than non-formulated states. Nanoliposomes containing Citrus aurantium essential oil with a particle size of 52 ± 4 nm showed the best larvicidal activity (LC50 and LC90 values) against Anopheles stephensi (6.63 and 12.29 µg/mL) and Culex quinquefasciatus (4.9 and 16.4 µg/mL).ConclusionDue to the green constituents and high efficacy of nanoliposomes containing C. aurantium essential oil, it could be considered for further investigation against other mosquitoes’ populations and field trials.

Contact and Fumigant Activities of Citrus aurantium Essential Oil against the Stable Fly Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae).

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), is a cosmopolitan hematophagous fly of medical and veterinary importance. It is widely considered a major livestock pest that can cause significant economic losses. This study aimed to evaluate the insecticidal activity of Citrus aurantium (L.) essential oil against S. calcitrans based on contact and fumigant toxicity tests. Chemical analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the essential oil showed the dominance (93.79%) of limonene in the total essential oil composition. Furthermore, the insecticidal test results showed that the mortality of flies increased with concentration and time within 24 h of exposure. In the contact toxicity test, the median lethal dose was 105.88 µg/fly, while the 90% lethal dose was 499.25 µg/fly. As for the fumigant toxicity test, the median lethal concentration was 13.06 mg/L air, and the 90% lethal concentration was 43.13 mg/L air. These results indicate that C. aurantium essential oil exhibits insecticidal activity against S. calcitrans. Therefore, it can be used as an alternative to synthetic insecticides for achieving stable fly control.

Histochemistry, chemical composition and antioxidant activity of Citrus aurantium L. essential oil during leaf development

ABSTRACT Essential toils are important natural products of aromatic plants, which are mostly biosynthesized and accumulated in secretory cavities. In this study, the impact of leaf developmental stages was investigated on secretory structure, chemical composition and antioxidant activity of Citrus aurantium essential oil. The secretory cavity of young leaf had more essential oil droplets than that of mature leaf which indicated that the young leaf constitutes a mass production of essential oil in Citrus aurantium leaf. In fact, the young leaves exhibited the highest essential oil yield (0.77%), followed by intermediate (0.50%) and mature (0.25%) leaves. The major constituent of the leaf essential oil composition was sabinene (33.17–44.83%), followed by E-β-ocimene (7.57–8.21%) in young and intermediate leaves but by δ-3-Carene (12.81%) in mature leaves. The antioxidant activities of Citrus aurantium essential oil at different leaf stages were evaluated by using DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power and β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching assays. Independently of leaf development, Citrus aurantium essential oil showed a strong capacity to reduce iron while it had a low ability to scavenge DPPH radicals and to bleach β-carotene.

The Effect of Citrus Aurantium Aroma on the Sleep Quality in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACTBackground: One of the most common problems in menopausal women is sleep disturbance. Citrus aurantium has sedative, hypnotic, and anti-anxiety effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Citrus aurantium aroma on the sleep quality of postmenopausal women.Methods: This was a double-blind randomized controlled trial that was conducted from Feb to Dec 2019 on 80 postmenopausal women who suffered from sleep disturbances. The participants were assigned into two groups randomly. Women in the intervention group were requested to use 2 drops of essential oil of Citrus aurantium, twice a day, for 4 consecutive days in a week, for 4 weeks as inhalation. The control group received almond oil in the same way. The quality of sleep was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) before the intervention and 4 weeks after the intervention started. The data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software, version 21, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: After 4-weeks of intervention, the mean score of sleep quality was significantly lower in the Citrus aurantium group compared to the control group (5.75±1.33 vs 13±1.59, P<0.001). In the intervention group, all dimensions of PSQI were improved significantly (P<0.001).Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the aroma of Citrus aurantium essence could significantly improve the sleep quality of postmenopausal women. Therefore, it is recommended that health care providers should inform the postmenopausal women and advise them to use this intervention for reduction of sleep disorders.Trial Registration Number: IRCT20160427027633N7

Chemical Compositions and Antioxidant Activities of Essential Oils, and Their Combinations, Obtained from Flavedo By-Product of Seven Cultivars of Sicilian Citrus aurantium L.

In this work, seven Citrus aurantium essential oils (EOs) derived from flavedo of cultivars ‘Canaliculata’, ‘Consolei’, ‘Crispifolia’, ‘Fasciata’, ‘Foetifera’, ‘Listata’, and ‘Bizzaria’ were investigated. EOs were also combined in 1:1 (v/v) ratio to identify possible synergism or antagonism of actions. GC-MS analysis was done to investigate Eos’ phytochemical profiles. The antioxidant activity was studied by using a multi-target approach based on FRAP, DPPH, ABTS, and β-carotene bleaching tests. A great difference was observed in EOs’ phytochemical profiles. d-limonene (33.35–89.17%) was the main monoterpene hydrocarbon, and α-Pinene, β-myrcene, and β-linalool were identified in almost all samples. Among EOs, only C3 showed high quantitative and qualitative variability in its chemical composition. The chemical diversity of EOs was also demonstrated by PCA and HCA statistical analysis. Samples C2, C4, C5, C6, and C7 were statistically similar to each other, while C1 and C3 were characterized as having a different amount of other compounds and oxygenated monoterpenes, respectively, with respect to the other EOs mentioned. The global antioxidant score (GAS) revealed that among the tested EOs, C. aurantium ‘Fasciata’ EO had the highest antioxidant potential, with a GAS value of −0.47, whereas among combinations, the EO obtained by mixing ‘Canaliculata’ + ‘Bizzaria’ was the most active. Comparison by theoretical and real data on inhibitory concentration (IC50) and FRAP values did not reveal any significant effect of synergism or antagonism of actions to be valid in all biological applied tests. These findings, considered together, represent an important starting point to understand which compounds are responsible for the activities and their future possible industrial application.

GC-MS Profile, α-glucosidase Inhibition Potential, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Evaluation of Peels Citrus aurantium (L), Essential Oil

This study was designed to analyze the chemical composition of Citrus aurantium Essential Oil (CAEO) peels and to evaluate α-glucosidase inhibition potential, antioxidant and antibacterial activities. According to GC-MS analyses, 37 compounds were identified with limonene was the most abundant (62.2%). Majority of the identified compounds belong to hydrocarbon monoterpenes fraction (75.7%), followed by oxygenated monoterpenes (19.16%). CAEO α-glucosidase inhibition outlined an important activity with IC50 = 10±1 mg/mL. Moreover, antioxidant activity revealed that CAEO exhibited a potent scavenging effect through 2,2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH.) (IC50=33.66 µg/mL) and an important ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activity (EC50=98.67 µg/mL). Antimicrobial data demonstrate that CAEO was active against a panel of pathogenic bacteria and that CAEO was able to destroy bacterial cells (bactericidal) according to the MBC/MIC ratios towards Gram+ and Gram- tested strains.

Insecticidal and Repellent Activity of Citrus aurantium1 Essential Oil against Dengue Mosquito Vector Aedes aegypti2

Indiscriminate use of insecticides to control vector-borne disease contaminates the environment and with time, mosquitoes gradually become resistant, making their control increasingly difficult. An alternative to synthetic insecticides, such as use of essential oils and extracts from plants, is needed for vector control. This study aimed to evaluate Cuban essential oil of Citrus aurantium (Sapindales: Rutaceae) against Aedes aegypti L. mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae), the main vector of arbovirus in Cuban. Calculated mean lethal concentrations (LC) were significantly low (LC50 = 13.5 mg/liter (Rockefeller) and 15.5 mg/liter (Marianao 2013). A developmental inhibitory effect was obtained by exposing each population of mosquito larvae to lethal concentration LC90. The emergence of adult mosquitoes was inhibited by exposing larvae to the LC90 of each population. Neither adulticidal activity was obtained with papers and bottles impregnated at neither 60 mg/ml nor, repellent activity with the evaluated formulations. C. aurantium oil is a promissory candidate for control larvae of Ae. aegypti, although it was not effective against adults nor repellent unless formulations were enhanced.

The Effects of Lavender and Citrus aurantium on Anxiety and Agitation of the Conscious Patients in Intensive Care Units: A Parallel Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background Conscious patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) suffer from anxiety and agitation for various reasons, which can affect their recovery processes. Aims To compare the effects of lavender and Citrus aurantium essential oils on anxiety and agitation of conscious patients admitted to ICUs. Design A randomized parallel placebo-controlled trial. Methods One hundred and fifty conscious patients admitted to ICUs were selected by convenience sampling and were randomly divided into three groups, groups of lavender aromatherapy and Citrus aurantium aromatherapy, in addition to the routine care and inhalation of five drops of lavender or Citrus aurantium essential oils for 30 minutes. The placebo group, in addition to routine care, was provided with 5 drops of normal saline for 30 minutes. Anxiety was assessed with the state subscale of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and agitation was examined with Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale before, immediately, one hour, and three hours after the intervention. Results All three groups suffered from relatively severe state anxiety before the intervention. The level of anxiety in the lavender and Citrus aurantium groups was significantly lower than that of the placebo group immediately and three hours after the intervention (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed between the two groups of lavender and Citrus aurantium. The majority of the samples in all three groups were agitated before the intervention, but agitation of all three groups decreased after the intervention. Restless/agitation reduced significantly in all three groups. Although restless/agitation of the lavender and Citrus aurantium groups reduced more than that of the placebo, no significant difference was found between the three groups. Conclusion The results of the present study showed the positive effects of lavender aromatherapy and Citrus aurantium aromatherapy on reducing the anxiety of patients admitted to ICUs. Relevance to Clinical Practice. Aromatherapy can be used as an effective and safe intervention to reduce anxiety in ICUs.