Chemical and Biological Comparative <i>in Vitro</i> Studies of Cinnamon Bark and Lemon Peel Essential Oils

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.

Lemon Essential Oil of Variable Composition by Changing the Conditions of the Extraction from Lemon Peel via Microwave Hydrodiffusion and Gravity

“…Now, we report the outcomes of the optimization of lemon essential oil extraction via microwave hydrodiffusion carried out on semi industrial scale, which enables to extract high quality essential oil via an entirely green process, and also to change the profile of the extract by accurately varying the conditions of the extraction. Lemon oil has become particularly valued, having an even higher market value than orange and grapefruit oil, due to its antimicrobial, antifungal, anticarcinogenic, and lipid antioxidant properties . The EO is mainly comprised of d ‐limonene, γ‐terpinene and β‐pinene, followed by four other monoterpene hydrocarbons (myrcene, sabinene, α‐pinene and p ‐cimene) and some 40 other compounds in five different classes (sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, carbonyl compounds, alcohols, esters and oxides) …”

Imatinib Mesylate-Loaded Rosin/Cinnamon Oil-Based In Situ Forming Gel against Colorectal Cancer Cells

“…Cinnamon oil (CO) from cinnamon bark is a volatile oil comprising cinnamaldehyde [ 16 ]. Several researchers have identified various biological activities of cinnamon extract and CO, including anticancer, antifungal, antibacterial and antioxidant ones [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. CO also exhibits potent cytotoxic activity against human colorectal cancer cells.…”

Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Citrus hystrix, Citrus limon, Citrus pyriformis, and Citrus microcarpa Leaf Essential Oils against Human Cervical Cancer Cell Line

“…peel EOs with IC 50 values <100 μg/mL. For instance, C. hystrix peel EO displayed potent cytotoxic activity against human melanoma cells (WM793, A375, and HTB140) with IC 50 values of 59.2–88.4 μg/mL, while C. limon peel EO was found to be cytotoxic to HepG2 cells and HCT-116 colorectal carcinoma cells (IC 50 value of 48.2 and 72.6 μg/mL, respectively) [ 42 , 43 ]. It is known that Citrus spp.…”