Volatile fraction composition and biological activity of lemon oil (<i>Citrus limon</i>L. Burm.): Comparative study of oils extracted from conventionally grown and biological fruits

Abstract

In this study, conventional and biological lemon cultivation techniques have been evaluated for their influence on the composition and biological activity of essential oils extracted from fresh lemon fruits. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation (HD) and analyzed by gas chromatography–flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and GC–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The human Ishikawa cell line maintained in culture was used to test the antiproliferative efficacy of essential oils and the paper disc diffusion method was employed to determine the antimicrobial activity. The results obtained indicated differences in both oil composition, especially in the content of oxygenated compounds, and biological activity, leading to the conclusion that the biological oils were of higher quality.