Essential Oil Profile: Lime

April 14, 2020

By Amelia E. Stone, RN

Common Name: Lime

Latin Binomial: Citrus aurantifolia

Family: Rutaceae

Other Common Names: West Indian lime, Key lime, Mexican lime, sour lime

Production Method: Cold Pressed & Steam Distilled

Countries of Origin: Persia (cold pressed), Mexico (steam distilled)

Typical Constituents: DISTILLED: [+]-Limonene + 1,8-cineole (55.6%), γ-Terpinene (11.8%), α-Terpineol (6.6%), Terpinolene (5.2%), b-Myrcene (2.6%), [Z]- b-Terpineol (2.2%), Terpinene-1-ol (1.9%), α-Pinene (1.8%), b-Pinene (1.8%), 1,4-Cineole (1.8%), ρ-Cymene (1.5%), Terpinen-4-ol (1.3%), α-Fenchol (1.1%)

COLD PRESSED: [+]-Limonene (48.2%), b- Pinene (21.1%), γ-Terpinene (8.1%), Sabinene (3.1%), α-Pinene (2.5%), Geranial (2.4%), b-Bisabolene (1.8%), Neral (1.4%), b-Myrcene (1.3%), [E]- α-Bergamotene (1.1%), b-Caryophyllene (1.0%), [2E, 26E]- α-Farnesene (1.0%)

NON-VOLATILE COMPOUNDS: 7-Methoxy-5-geranoxycoumarin (1.7-5.2%), 5-Geranoxy-7-methoxycoumarin (1.7-3.2%), Bergamottin (1.7-3.0%), Citropten (0.4-2.2%), Isopimpinellin (0.1-1.3%), 5-Geroxy-8-methoxypsoralen (0.2-0.9%), Bergapten (0.17-0.33%), Oxypeucedanin (0.02-0.3%), 8-Geranoxypsoralen (0.10-0.14%)

Description of Oil: DISTILLED: clear to pale yellow; sharp, fruity citrus odor

                                      COLD PRESSED: yellowish green to olive green; intensely fresh, rich citrus odor

Description of Plant: Mexican limes are smaller than Persian with a smooth, thin peel.  Persian limes are larger and seedless.

History, Folklore and Myth: Introduced to Europe by the Moors and brought to America by the Spanish and Portuguese around the 16^th century.  Ship crews depended on the lime juice to prevent scurvy.  The oil has been used in the beverage industry since the 19^th century.

Properties and Uses: antiseptic, antiviral, astringent, bactericide, disinfectant, febrifuge, haemostatic, insecticide, tonic

Precautions and Contraindications: Maximum dermal use level 0.7%.  Storage in a dark, airtight container in the refrigerator will prevent oxidation of cold pressed oil.

References: Battaglia, Salvatore. The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. Virginia, Queensland, Australia: The Perfect Potion. 1995.

Tisserand, Robert, and Tony Balacs. Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. 1995.

Sellar, Wanda. The Directory of Essential Oils. London: Random House. 2005

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