REVIEW ON EXTRACTION METHODS OF ESSENTIAL OIL FROM KAFFIR LIME (Citrus hystrix) LEAVES

Abstract

affir lime or “limau purut,” common names for Citrus hystrix DC (C. hystrix), is a popular traditional herbal plant and an essential herb in Asian countries. C. hystrix was native to the Indonesian island known as Sumbawa; then, its cultivation was expanded to Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and other tropical countries in the Asian region. C. hystrix contains phenolic compounds and essential oil. The rarity of essential oil makes it a precious product in many industries. The essential oil is extracted from Kaffir lime leaves using a few extraction methods; however, the best extraction methods are yet to be concluded to date. This narrative review paper highlights several extraction methods which determined the final yield of Kaffir lime leaves essential oil and the comparison of advantages and disadvantages between each method. This review paper also covers the pre-treatment procedures as it is also an important element which affects the final yield. Essentially, each of the extraction and pre-treatment methods has its own pros and cons, and consequently choosing a suitable technique depends on the demand and requirement of the producer.

Keywords

• citrus hystrix
• kaffir lime
• essential oil
• leaves
• extraction method