Phytochemical characterization of lime (Citrus aurantifolia Christm Swingle) and orange (Citrus × sinensis (L.) Osbeck) rind at Guerrero, Mexico

Phytochemicals, that include both primary and secondary metabolites (SMs) of the plants, are of great interest in a variety of sectors, such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Recently, it has been recognized that SMs could be used as a basis to develop biopesticides. Lime and orange peels were collected and dried at room temperature from Guerrero, México. They were ground until obtaining a fine powder in a blender and then the extraction of the compounds was conducted. Characterization of plant extracts was done through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The outstanding compounds in the extracts were d-limonene and citric acid. d-Limonene stood out as one of the predominant ones with a concentration of 95.66 %. The ethanolic extracts presented a higher number of compounds than aqueous extracts. This study represents a significant advance in the characterization and comprehension of orange and lime peel extracts, providing a solid base for future studies and practical applications in various scientific and commercial fields.