Botanical name: Citrus aurantifolia
English name: Lime
Family: Rutaceae
Chemical constituents: The fragrant pleasantly sour juice is rich in ascorbic, citric and malic and their salts. Fruit peel and leaves are rich in an essential oil (lemon oil) containing principally limonene, alpha-terpinene , alpha-pinene, beta- pinene , citral and beta-ocimene. Peel also contains biflavotives,coumarins and vitamins A, B1, and B2; limocitrol , its also derivatives; tangeritin, naringin, bergamontine; coumarins and beta-sitosterol, seeds contain Vitter principles, obacunone and limonin. Roots contain xathyletin, stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol.
Properties and Uses: Lemon is one of the most important and versatile natural medicine for home use. Its high vitamin C contains improves resistansce to infection, making it effective against colds and flu. It is taken as a preventive for stomach infections, circulatory problems and arteriosclerosis, remedy for scurvey. It is antiseptic, antirheumatic, antibacterial and antioxidant. Fruit juice is used in cough, cold and juice is popularly used as an appetizer, stomachic and in the treatment of nausea and vomiting. The juice is also used a component of cosmetic skin preparations.