TITLE:
Chemical and Biological Comparative in Vitro Studies of Cinnamon Bark and Lemon Peel Essential Oils
AUTHORS:
Eman M. Elgendy, Hoda S. Ibrahim, Hanaa F. Elmeherry, Amal G. Sedki, Faten U. Mekhemer
KEYWORDS:
Cinnamon, Lemon, Essential Oil, Cinnamaldehyde, Limonene
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.8 No.1,
January
20,
2017
ABSTRACT: Cinnamon and lemon are the oldest plants which
possess a rising popularity due to their therapeutic potential from centuries. Cinnamomum
zeylanicum and lemon (Citrus
lemon L.) have been subjected to extensive research. Their essential
oils were extracted by steam distillation from selected plants and their
chemical compositions were determined by the GC-MS system. Cinnamon and lemon
essential oils were examined for antioxidant activity by ABTS method which
showed the ability to inhibit lipid per-oxidation. On the other hand, in
antimicrobial investigations, cinnamon and lemon essential oils have inhibitory
effect against Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) using Muller Hinton agar medium. The essential oils of cinnamon and lemon showed antifungal effects which
were tested against (Candida
albicans). The volatile oil of cinnamon bark has been found to be
highly effective against all the tested bacteria and fungi. However, lemon peel
essential oil has shown medium inhibition for Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). On
the other hand, the cytotoxic activities of the essential oils were tested on
hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal carcinoma. Essential oils have shown
good activities on the cell lines. Essential oil of cinnamon showed more
inhibition rate than essential oil of lemon. This study reported the importance
of both cinnamon and lemon volatile oils and recommends that cinnamon and lemon
can be used as an active therapy for humans.