Antimicrobial Potential of Citrus limon Peel Essential Oil from Morocco: A Sustainable Approach to Citrus Waste Valorization

Authors

  • Hajar Kodad

    Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra B.P. 242, Morocco
  • Oussama Chauiyakh

    Materials, Energy and Acoustics Team, Higher School of Technology, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Salé B.P 227, Morocco
  • Abdelaati Soufiani

    Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra B.P. 242, Morocco
  • Hammadi El Farissi

    Chemical Engineering for Resources Valorization Group (UAE/L01FST), Faculty of Science and Technology, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tangier 90002, Morocco
  • Safae El Aammouri

    Plant, Animal, and Agro-Industry Production Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra B.P. 242, Morocco
  • Narjisse Mokhtari

    Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Materials, Natural Substances and Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tanger B.P. 2117, Morocco
  • Malika Tiskar

    Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Catalysis and Environment, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra B.P. 133, Morocco
  • Yassine Mouniane

    Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra B.P. 242, Morocco
  • El Mahjoub Aouane

    Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra B.P. 242, Morocco

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v7i5.11689
Received: 18 August 2025 | Revised: 4 September 2025 | Accepted: 8 September 2025 | Published Online: 21 November 2025

Abstract

Citrus peel residues are among the most abundant agro-industrial by-products, and their sustainable valorization offers a promising strategy to mitigate environmental impacts while generating value-added products for agriculture and health. In this study, approximately 130 lemon fruits were harvested from three representative orchards in the Pre-Rif region (Taza, Morocco) in March 2022. In each orchard, 5–10 trees were randomly selected, and 3–5 mature and healthy fruits were collected per tree. The peels were separated, washed, and subjected to hydrodistillation for essential oil (EO) extraction. The EO was chemically characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), following authentication of plant material through morphological and molecular identification. Twenty volatile compounds were identified, with D-limonene (46.89%) as the major constituent, followed by citral (8.32%), benzene (ethoxymethyl)- (7.86%), α-pinene (6.89%), cyclopentane bromo- (6.39%), and 1,2-bis(3-cyclohexenyl)ethylene (5.33%). Biological assays revealed strong broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against clinically relevant pathogens: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans. The lowest  Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was recorded for C. albicans (1.66 mg/mL), while both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa showed pronounced bactericidal responses (MIC = MBC = 6.63 mg/mL). These findings demonstrate the potential of C. limon EO as a natural antimicrobial agent. By converting citrus peel waste into high-value bioproducts, this study highlights both environmental and socio-economic benefits, fostering eco-friendly biopesticides suitable for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and reinforcing the circular bioeconomy in citrus-producing regions.

Keywords:

Citrus limon; Essential Oil; GC–MS; Antimicrobial Activity; Sustainable Valorization

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Kodad, H., Chauiyakh, O., Soufiani, A., El Farissi, H., El Aammouri, S., Mokhtari, N., Tiskar, M., Mouniane, Y., & Aouane, E. M. (2025). Antimicrobial Potential of Citrus limon Peel Essential Oil from Morocco: A Sustainable Approach to Citrus Waste Valorization. Research in Ecology, 7(5), 302–317. https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v7i5.11689

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Vol.7, Iss.5 (December 2025)(in progress)

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Copyright © 2025 Hajar Kodad, Oussama Chauiyakh, Abdelaati Soufiani, Hammadi El Farissi, Safae El Aammouri, Narjisse Mokhtari, Malika Tiskar, Yassine Mouniane, El Mahjoub Aouane

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