Citruslimon or known as lemon is widely researched and used in alternative medicine, including in Indonesia, and has been extensively tested for its antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, antiseptic, anti-cancer, anti-diabetes, and accelerate wound healing. One part of the lemon that is widely used is the peel of the lemon, which can be processed into essential oils.
A study conducted by a research team from the Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, using essential oils from lemon peel, showed that essential oils from lemon peel could inhibit the fungus Candida albicans. This fungus is known to cause a yeast infection in the oral cavity called oral candidiasis.
Behind the benefits of the essential oil from lemon peel, it was found that the essential oil from lemon peel, can cause an allergic reaction on the skin. The allergic reaction that occurs on the skin is a slow type of allergic reaction called a hypersensitivity reaction type 4. This research was conducted by the same team, by giving essential oils from the lemon rind with concentrations of 0.78% and 1.56% on the back skin of experimental animals. Within the predetermined observation time, there were no changes in the skin of the experimental animals such as redness or swelling. However, the histological and immunohistochemical examination found signs of inflammation in response to lemon peel essential oil, such as an increase in the number of lymphocytes, macrophages, expression of interferon-gamma and interleukin 10.
In this study, it was found that the highest concentrations of bioactive components in the essential oil of lemon fruit peel were D-limonene (75.02%), linalool (5.63%), citral A (4.41%), citral B (3.68%), and limonene oxide (0.94%). D-limonene, which is the main component, has an essential role in the emergence of allergic reactions. D-limonene is a chemical found in cosmetics and detergents sold worldwide. In its unoxidized form, it is reported as a weak allergen. However, when contaminated with free air, these substances are automatically oxidized, making them highly allergenic. However, when observed, there were no signs of inflammation in this study after administration of essential oil from lemon rind.
Therefore, it should be emphasized that the use of essential oils from lemon peel should be used with caution, even though clinically there are no signs of an allergic reaction, but cellular indicates an allergic reaction. Studies have shown that D-limonene, citral, and linalool affect people with dermatitis or a history of allergies more so that they can cause type IV allergic reactions.
Author: Fatma Yasmin Mahdani, drg., M.Kes., MeircuriusDwiCondro Surboyo, drg., M.Kes.,
Link: F.Y.Mahdani, A.E, Parmadiati, D.S.Ernawati, H. Husain, S.A.P.Ekaperdana, U. Rachmaningayu, P.Hadi, H.T.Hendarti, M.D.C.Surboyo. Citrus limon Peel Essential Oil – Induced Type IV Hypersensitivity Reaction. J Exp Pharmacol. 2020; 12: 213–220. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7394596/
