COMPARATIVE BIOACTIVITIES OF ESSENTIAL OILS FROM KAFFIR LIME (Citrus hystrix) PEEL WASTES AND BENTONG GINGER (Zingiber officinale var. Bentong) RHIZOMES

Tat Wai Phang; Suet Ying Ng; Sheng Wei Ong; Chen Son Yue; Meow Lin Chia; Sheri-Ann Tan

Authors

Tat Wai Phang Faculty of Applied Sciences, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Malaysia
Suet Ying Ng Faculty of Applied Sciences, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Malaysia
Sheng Wei Ong Faculty of Applied Sciences, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Malaysia
Chen Son Yue Faculty of Applied Sciences, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Malaysia
Meow Lin Chia Faculty of Applied Sciences, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Malaysia
Sheri-Ann Tan Faculty of Applied Sciences, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Malaysia

Keywords:

antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, Bentong ginger rhizomes, essential oils, kaffir lime peels

Abstract

Essential oils derived from kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix) peels and Bentong ginger (Zingiber officinale var. Bentong) rhizomes
have promising aromatic and bioactive properties, attracting interest for their potential as natural additives to enhance the biological performance and market value of existing products. This study evaluated the phytochemical profiles, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of essential oils extracted from kaffir lime peels and ginger rhizomes using ultrasonicationassisted hydrodistillation. Gas ChromatographyMass Spectrometry revealed β-pinene (19.9%) and citronellal (18.7%) as major compounds in
kaffir lime peel essential oil. In comparison, Bentong ginger rhizome essential oil predominantly contained α-citral (22%) and α-curcumin (15.5%). Bentong ginger rhizome essential oil exhibited higher total phenolic (1.78±0.14 mg GAE/100 µL EO) and flavonoid (3.37±0.04 mg QE/100 µL EO) contents, correlating with superior antioxidant activities in ferric reducing power (34.07±1.54 µmol Fe2+/g of EO) and radical scavenging (DPPH: 77.55±1.57% & ABTS: 67.58±1.34% at 50 mg/mL) effects compared with kaffir lime peel essential oil at similar concentrations tested. Kaffir lime peel essential oil showed stronger ferrous ion chelating activity (82.17±1.42% at 0.8 mg/mL) besides exerting superior anti-inflammatory properties reflected by higher inhibitory effect (70.69±0.22% at 10 mg/mL) towards bovine serum albumin denaturation as compared to Bentong ginger rhizome essential oil at the same concentration. β-pinene, a major compound of kaffir lime peel essential oil, had been recognized for its metal chelating and anti-inflammatory effects in previous studies. Kaffir lime peel offer a more cost-effective and eco-friendlier raw material to produce essential oil with competitive bioactivity compared to the high-priced Bentong ginger.