Chemical profiling and in-vitro anti-fungal and antioxidant activities of citrus peel essential oil

The bioactive phytochemicals derived from citrus wastes are considered to have various physiological and biological activities that may be potentially helpful in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and processed food industries. This study assessed the antiFusarium and antioxidant potential and chemical constituents of essential oil extracted from the peels of Citrus paradisi, Citrus sinensis, and Citrus aurantium. Phytochemical screening by Gas chromatography identified 24, 26, and 39 constituents in Citrus paradisi, Citrus sinensis, and Citrus aurantium, respectively. Amongst which, limonene (84-87 %) was found to be present in major proportion followed by other major components like a-myrcene, geranial, (+)- valencene, a-pinene, and neral. The estimation of polyphenol contents (PPC) (1.041 +/- 0.04 - 7.705 +/- 0.26 GAE mu g/5mg) and the free radical scavenging activity of these major chemical components was determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging ability (IC50: 0.71 +/- 0.02-2.99 +/- 0.1 mu g, and reducing power (RP) (0.75 +/- 0.026-1.972 +/- 0.067).. Anti-Fusarium activity was evaluated against two major food spoilage Fusarium species namely, Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorum. Dose-dependent activity of growth inhibition effect of essential oils was observed. Citrus aurantium peel essential oil proved to be most effective with 100% inhibition of F. graminearum.