Biological activities and safety of citrus essential oils

According to the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, the Citrus genus within the Rutaceae family stands as one of the most ancient, extensively traded, and widely spread crops globally. However, the processing of Citrus fruits results in a substantial volume of waste—peels, seeds, and pulps amounts to almost half of the fruit itself. Yet, this product proves to be a treasure, containing valuable elements such as d-limonene, flavonoids, carotenoids, dietary fibers, and essential oils. Among these constituents, the essential oil (EO) emerges as the most pivotal by-product from Citrus processing. Notably, there exists a considerable diversity in the chemical makeup, owing to a multitude of factors including origin, climatic conditions, maturity stage, and extraction techniques employed.
From a clinical perspective, the inhalation of orange essential oil for 90 seconds triggers a noticeable decline in oxyhemoglobin concentration within the brain, fostering a sense of comfort and relaxation. This aromatic experience with sweet orange fragrance has shown promise in reducing anxiety symptoms and uplifting mood. In another application, formulations incorporating orange and sweet basil oils demonstrated effectiveness in acne treatment, resulting in substantial improvement with clearance of lesions ranging up to 75%. On a different note, bitter orange essential oil serves as a mild sedative and hypnotic agent, aiding in enhancing sleep duration and addressing insomnia concerns. Its multifaceted properties offer diverse potential therapeutic applications.