Citrus fruit like citrus limon commonly called lemon has been found to have numerous beneficial properties. Usually, the fruit pulp is used for juice, and its various products and peel is discarded as waste material. Now it is a high time to understand the myriad benefits of lemon peel. It has been proved to have anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antidiabetic properties. Lemon peel contains essential oils and other constituents responsible for these actions. Constituents of essential oil are monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, aldehyde, esters, alcohol, and ketone. It also contains limonine, carvone and alphaterinone. Studies revealed antimicrobial properties of lemon peel which help in preventing the growth of common oral organisms like Streptococcus mutans, prevotella intermedia and porphyromonasgingivalis which are the causative organisms for dental caries and periodontitis. Four chemical substances were isolated and identified responsible for the antimicrobial activity of lemon peel. These were 8-geranyloxypsolaren,5-geranyloxypsolaren,5-geranyloxy-7-methoxycoumarin and phloroglusinol-1-beta-D-glucopyranoside [phlorin]. Hence it can be considered that the inclusion of lemon peel in a suitable form for dental treatment should maintain good oral hygiene and prevent the occurrence of dental caries and periodontitis. Further studies would encourage the regular usage of lemon peel as a therapeutic agent.
