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Citrus fruits are one of the most abundant crops globally in more than 140 countries throughout the world. Acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia swingle) is one of the citrus fruits which popularly has rich nutritional and therapeutic features. The storage period is the important factor that affects the economic and quality properties of this fruit. This study aims to demonstrate the enhancing effect of preharvest spraying with potassium, in addition to the postharvest dipping of fruits in some edible coatings, on the quality and storability of acid lime fruits. Preharvest spraying with organic and mineral forms of potassium, namely, potassium thiosulfate 1.75 g/L (S) and potassium tartrate 2 g/L (T), were carried out at three different times, in May, June, and July. On the other hand, postharvest treatments were carried out via dipping fruits in different types of biopolymers (carboxymethyl cellulose (E2) and gum arabic (E3)) and carboxymethyl cellulose/gum arabic composite (E4) as well as nanocoating formulation based on both biopolymers and doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) (E1), which were prepared via acid lime peel waste extract. Herein, the physiochemical and morphological characterizations confirmed that the nanocoating was prepared at the nanoscale and doped with green synthesis ZnONPs, with recorded sizes of around 80 and 20 nm, respectively. Preharvest spraying with potassium tartrate enhanced fruit traits (Spraying with potassium tartrate at pre-harvest and nanocoating dipping at post-harvest (TE1), spraying with potassium tartrate at pre-harvest and carboxy methyl cellulose dipping at post-harvest (TE2), spraying with potassium tartrate at pre-harvest and gum arabic dipping at post-harvest (TE3) and spraying with potassium tartrate at pre-harvest and carboxymethyl cellulose/gum arabic composite dipping at post-harvest (TE4)), followed by potassium thiosulfate (spraying with potassium thiosulfate at pre-harvest and nanocoating dipping at post-harvest (SE1), spraying with potassium thiosulfate at pre-harvest and carboxy methyl cellulose dipping at post-harvest (SE2), spraying with potassium thiosulfate at pre-harvest and gum arabic dipping at post-harvest (SE3) and spraying with potassium thiosulfate at pre-harvest and carboxymethyl cellulose/gum arabic dipping at post-harvest (SE4)), compared to control. For postharvest treatments, E1 improved fruit quality, followed by E2, E4, and E3, respectively. The integration between pre- and postharvest treatments showed a clear superiority of TE2, followed by TE4, SE1, and SE2, respectively.

The aim of the study was to compare the mineral content between the peel and the pulp of citrus fruits and to determine which citrus fruit, among orange (Citrus sinensis), pomelo (Citrus maxima), mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco), lemon (Citrus limon), key lime (Citrus aurantifolia), and red, yellow, or green grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), is the richest in minerals. The research material consisted of fresh citrus fruits belonging to the genus Citrus L in the family Rutaceae. The fruits were purchased at a supermarket at one time. To prepare laboratory samples, each fruit was cut in half, and one half was homogenized, treating the sample as a whole (peel + flesh), while the other half was peeled and the pulp (F) and peel (P) were homogenized separately. To determine the content of minerals (Na+, K+, Ca+2, Mg+2, Fe+2, Zn+2, Cu+2, Mn+2, and Se+2), the samples were mineralized and analyzed using an Analytik Jena PlasmaQuant PQ 9000 inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. The content of macro- and micronutrients in the peel of most of the fruits far exceeded their quantity in the pulp. Oranges and pomelos are the fruits richest in iron and copper, so they could be recommended in cases such as hemoglobin production disorders resulting from a deficiency of these elements. Oranges can additionally enrich the body with potassium, phosphorus, and manganese, while lime can be a source of calcium, zinc, sodium, and especially potassium. It should also be noted that all citrus fruits are a very valuable source of potassium, which is needed to ensure the water and electrolyte balance.

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation for the Witches' broom disease of lime (Citrus aurantifolia) phytoplasma for the EU territory. The pest has been reported in a few countries in the Middle East and is not known to occur in the EU. The disease is caused by a well‐defined phytoplasma strain in the ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia' species, for which efficient molecular detection assays are available. The most important known natural host is Citrus aurantifolia, which is only grown for ornamental purposes in the EU. Sweet limes, rough lemon and trifoliate orange are also naturally infected by that phytoplasma. The latter can be transmitted by grafting also to some citrus species. Other citrus species were reported to be resistant; however, their susceptibility has been assessed only by symptom observations, and the possible presence of phytoplasmas in symptomless plants cannot be ruled out. The phytoplasma is transmitted by the leafhopper Hishimonus phycitis, which is not known to occur in the EU. There is no information on the vector status of other phloem feeding insects of citrus present in the EU. The pest is listed in Annex IIAI of Directive 2000/29/EC. The main pathways for entry, plants for planting and the vector insect, are closed by existing legislation on import of citrus plants. Nevertheless, should the pest enter, it could establish and spread. In countries where Witches' broom disease of lime (WBDL) is present, it has significant impact. The main knowledge gaps concern (1) and vertical transmission of the phytoplasma to H. phycitis eggs (2) lack of information regarding susceptibility of citrus crops grown in the EU (3) status of potential insect vectors in the EU. Therefore, the WBDL phytoplasma meets the criteria assessed by EFSA for consideration as a potential Union quarantine pest.

Many citrus species show high levels of heterozygosity due to their hybrid origin and clonal propagation. This heterozygosity can both hinder and aid efforts to study and improve these cultivars, making it increasingly clear that diploid assemblies have significant advantages over the previous generation of haploid assemblies. In this work, we assemble both subgenomes of Mexican lime (Citrus × aurantifolia), an interspecific hybrid between Citrus hystrix var. micrantha and Citrus medica. The resulting diploid assembly is nearly telomere-to-telomere, spanning 680 Mb. Using subgenome-specific repeats, we were able to phase the 18 chromosomes based on their parent of origin. The resulting hystrix and medica haplotypes show a number of large structural variations, consistent with their distant hybrid ancestry. Despite divergence between haplotypes, syntenic gene pairs were identified for over 90% of the annotated protein coding genes. Within these genes, we find extensive divergence between haplotypes, with at least 89% harboring polymorphisms at an average rate of 13 per kilobase of coding sequence. Knowledge of this variation will be important for future efforts to improve this cultivar using genetic engineering technologies.

Oral diseases affect more than 3.5 billion people globally, representing a major public health burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where access to dental care is often limited. Furthermore, the use of conventional antimicrobial agent may cause side effect. This underscores the need for affordable, plant-based alternatives to conventional antimicrobials. This study investigated the chemical compositions and antimicrobial activities of Citrus aurantifolia peel oils from Thailand (Lime TH) and South Africa (Lime SF), along with an ethanolic extract of Ocimum sanctum L. (OSE), against five oral pathogens: Lactobacillus acidophilus , Streptococcus mutans , Porphyromonas gingivalis , Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans , and Candida albicans . Chemical constituents were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the peel oils and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the extract. GC-MS identified D-limonene as the major constituent in both Lime TH (49.11 ± 0.76% w/w) and Lime SF (42.32 ± 0.60% w/w), while HPLC confirmed the presence of ursolic acid in OSE (2.67 ± 0.07% w/w). Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by broth microdilution to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentrations (MBC/MFC), and time-kill kinetics. Lime TH exhibited the strongest activity (MIC and MBC/MFC values between 0.20 and 25.0 mg/mL), followed by Lime SF (0.39–50.0 mg/mL). OSE inhibited four bacterial strains (excluding C. albicans ) with MIC and MBC values ranging from 0.05 to 100 mg/mL. These findings highlight the potential of C. aurantifolia peel oils and O. sanctum extract as natural antimicrobial agents for incorporation into oral care products.

Natural polymers such as pectin have garnered significant interest in recent years due to their potential applications in gastroretentive drug delivery systems. Gastroretentive dosage forms are intended to extend the emptying time of drugs in the gastrointestinal tract. Accordingly, this study was aimed to examine the use of pectin as a floating and mucoadhesive polymer using furosemide as a model drug. The citrus peel pectin was extracted from local Citrus aurantifolia tree fruit peel using hot water extraction technique. FTIR and DSC analyses were performed to investigate the compatibility of the pectin extracted with furosemide. C. aurantifolia peel yielded 34.4% (w/w) purified pectin with a degree of esterification of 85.49%. FTIR and DSC analysis revealed that the citrus peel pectin powder is compatible with furosemide. Based on preliminary study, pectin and effervescent agent concentration were identified as significant independent variables. Hence, their influence on five response variables (floating duration, bioadhesive strength, swelling index, drug release at 1 h, and drug release rate) were further studied and optimized using central composite design (CCD). Accordingly, the CCD model predicted an optimum formulation at 22.3% of pectin concentration and 5% of effervescent agent. Under this condition, the Design-Expert software predicted floating duration (14.07 s), bioadhesive strength (28.57 g), swelling index (254.08%), drug release at 1 h (27.86%), and drug release rate (28.045%/h −1/2 ). The validity of the predicted optimum formulation was confirmed experimentally. The optimized tablet formulation showed pharmacopeial acceptable characteristics. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that waste-derived citrus pectin can be considered as an abundant alternative pharmaceutical excipient in the formulation and manufacture of floating and bioadhesive matrix tablets with favorable floating and bioadhesion characteristics.

Citrus aurantifolia is part of the Rutaceae family and belongs to the genus Citrus. It is widely used in food, the chemical industry, and pharmaceuticals because it has a unique flavor and odor. It is nutrient-rich and is beneficial as an antibacterial, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and insecticide. Secondary metabolites present in C. aurantifolia are what give rise to biological action. Flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, limonoids, alkaloids, and essential oils are among the secondary metabolites/phytochemicals discovered in C. aurantifolia. Every portion of the plant’s C. aurantifolia has a different composition of secondary metabolites. Environmental conditions such as light and temperature affect the oxidative stability of the secondary metabolites from C. aurantifolia. The oxidative stability has been increased by using microencapsulation. The advantages of microencapsulation are control of the release, solubilization, and protection of the bioactive component. Therefore, the chemical makeup and biological functions of the various plant components of C. aurantifolia must be investigated. The aim of this review is to discuss the bioactive components of C. aurantifolia such as essential oils, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic, limonoids, and alkaloids obtained from different parts of the plants and their biological activities such as being antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, an insecticide, and anti-inflammatory. In addition, various extraction techniques of the compounds out of different parts of the plant matrix as well as the microencapsulation of the bioactive components in food are also provided.

Background The Mexican lime ( Citrus aurantifolia cv.), widely consumed in Iran and globally, is known for its high perishability. Edible coatings have emerged as a popular method to extend the shelf life of fruits, with xanthan gum-based coatings being particularly favored for their environmental benefits. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an edible coating formulated from xanthan gum, enriched with Spirulina platensis (Sp) and pomegranate seed oil (PSO), in improving the quality and reducing the weight loss of Mexican lime fruit under conditions of 20 ± 2 °C and 50–60% relative humidity. Results Based on the results, the application of coatings was generally effective in reducing fruit weight loss, with the least weight loss observed in the xanthan gum 0.2%+ Spirulina platensis extract (1%) treatment. Additionally, the levels of total phenols and flavonoids in the treated fruits exceeded those in the control group, with xanthan gum 0.2%+ Spirulina platensis extract (1%) and xanthan gum 0.2% exhibiting the highest concentrations of these compounds. The antioxidant capacity of the fruits was also enhanced by the coatings, surpassing that of the control group, with xanthan gum 0.2%+ Spirulina platensis extract (1%) achieving the highest levels. The treatments significantly suppressed the activity of the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme, with xanthan gum 0.2% demonstrating the most potent inhibitory effect. Furthermore, the treatments resulted in increased activities of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) enzymes compared to the control. Except for xanthan gum 0.2%+ pomegranate seed oil (0.05%), all treatments maintained the fruit’s greenness (a*) more effectively than the control. Conclusions Peel browning is a major factor contributing to the decline in quality and shelf life of lime fruit. The application of 0.1% and 0.2% xanthan gum coatings, as well as a combination of 0.2% xanthan gum and Spirulina platensis extract, significantly inhibited PPO activity and enhanced the activity of CAT and POD and phenolic compound in Mexican lime fruits stored at of 20 ± 2 °C for 24 days. Consequently, these treatments comprehensively preserved lime fruit quality by significantly reducing browning, maintaining green color, and preserving internal quality parameters such as TA, thereby enhancing both visual appeal and overall fruit quality.

In the setting of healthcare, the use of hand sanitizers and antiseptics for hand hygiene is of paramount importance to avoid transfer of pathogenic microorganism through hand and skin contact. There is an increasing interest in the incorporation of essential oils in hand sanitizer’s formula to avoid the adverse effect of conventional hand sanitizers on health. This study aimed to detect the chemical constituents of citrus peel essential oils and study their antimicrobial activity compared with commercial hand sanitizers. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of the hydrodistillated essential oils of peels of grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), lime (Citrus aurantifolia), and orange (Citrus sinensis) were carried out using gas chromatography mass spectroscopy. The disc diffusion method was used to screen the antibacterial activity of the essential oils against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans compared with a 78% alcohol-based commercial hand sanitizer. The antimicrobial testing results were statistically analyzed. The highest yield percentage of the obtained essential oils was 1.09% obtained by orange oil. The GC-MS analysis indicated that monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons occupied the largest portion of the chemical composition of the three essential oils with D-limonene as the most predominant component. All essential oils showed activity against all tested organisms. Lime essential oil showed comparable antimicrobial activity relative to the commercial 78% alcohol hand sanitizer. In conclusion, essential oils obtained from citrus fruit peel represent a rich source of compounds possessing antimicrobial properties and could be an alternative to synthetic antimicrobial agents.

Dental fear and anxiety (DFA) is known as an immense challenge in oral healthcare, which can result in compromised oral health, pain, and uncomfortable treatment. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of essential-oil vaporization on acute anxiety of patients in dental practices. Four dental practices used five weekly cycles of vaporization with each scent: Orange (Citrus sinensis), Swiss Pine (Pinus cembra), Good Mood (blended essential oils: Citrus sinensis, Citrus aurantifolia, Citrus limon, Osmanthus fragrance (5%)), Forest Walk (blended essential oils: Abies grandis, Pinus cembra, Myrtus communis c. t. 1,8-cineol, Abies alba, Citrus paradisi, Abies sibirica, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Vetiveria zizanoides), and water. Acute anxiety was the primary outcome (state-trait-anxiety inventory (STAI-S)). Secondary outcomes were trait anxiety (STAI-T), dental anxiety (Kleinknecht dental fear survey), and pain perception in treatment (numeric rating scale). Across all patients (n = 486), STAI-S was slightly higher in the control group (40.7 ± 11.6) than in the intervention groups (38.4 ± 10.5). Post-hoc analyses revealed that the effect is only robust for the subgroup of female patients (n = 296, p  = 0.044). We also conducted a post-hoc additional analysis on a subpopulation with an increased level of STAI-T ≥ 42 (n = 131 patients). For this group the difference in acute anxiety between the control group (51.1 ± 11.9, n = 30) vs. the intervention groups (46.8 ± 9.6, n = 118) was significant ( T  = 4.39, p  = 0.0379). The results of the study indicate a promising potential of essential-oil vaporization to alleviate dental anxiety, particularly in the subgroups of patients with a high level of trait anxiety, and particularly in female patients. The calming effects of the essential-oil vaporization were also highlighted by the anecdotical statements of the dental-practice staff. The anxiety-reducing role of essential-oil vaporization alone and as one part of combined techniques to counter DFA should be further explored using multi-perspective methodological approaches in research.