Effet d’huile essentielle de l’écorce de citron sur l’activité antimicrobienne

Abstract

This study focuses on the analysis of essential oils extracted from lemon peels (Citrus Limon) sourced from the Mostaganem province in Algeria. The extraction method used was steam distillation, yielding 30 ml of volatile oils. This technique is widely recognized for its ability to preserve the bioactive compounds in plants. Physicochemical analyses performed on the essential oil revealed that their characteristics (such as density, refractive index, and chemical composition) comply with international standards established by AFNOR, ensuring the quality and purity of the extracts. To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of the essential oils, tests were conducted on three bacterial strains: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853); Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922); Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923).The Results from agar diffusion tests showed significant inhibitory activity against these bacteria, highlighting the potential of lemon essential oils as natural antimicrobial agents. This effective essisat tribute to the presence of bioactive compounds such as limonene and citral, known for their antibacterial properties. Additionally, complementary analyses were conducted to assess the antioxidant properties of the essential oils, revealing further potential for use in food preservation and cosmetics. These results emphasize not only the importance of lemon essential oils in alternative medicine but also their potential applications in the agro-food and pharmaceutical industries.