Comprehensive Study on the Pharmacognostical, Physico-Phytochemical, and Analytical Properties of Citrus limon (L.) Burm. F. Fruit

Background: Pharmacognosy is a scientific and systematic study of natural products helps in identification of raw material through morphological and chemical properties. Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. is a tree, and its fruits are used for nutritional and therapeutic values in Indian traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda, and other like African and Romanian traditional systems. Citrus limon has a wide use but its pharmacognostical, physicochemical, phytochemical profile is not published till date. Thus, to develop a preliminary pharmacognostical, physicochemical, and phytochemical profile of Citrus limon current research has been carried out. Materials and Methods: Citrus limon fruits were collected from its natural habitat and authenticated at CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR). Pharmacognostical, physicochemical analysis was done as per Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India. Results: The macroscopic analysis suggested that fruit of Citrus limon was ovoid; the microscopic analysis revealed the presence of prismatic calcium oxalate crystals; in the physicochemical parameters loss on drying was found 11.90% and pH 2.98. The phytochemical analysis revealed presence of proteins, alkaloids and flavonoids. The fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed presence of alcohol, alkenes, and aromatic compounds. Fingerprinting analysis of C. limon through high performance thin layer chromatography showed presence of various phytoconstituents in different concentrations through different peaks and R f values and also sample showed presence of 2.36% limonene. Conclusion: The present study will serve as a quality control parameter of Citrus limon fruit. The study will be helpful in easy identification, authentication, and detection of adulteration in marketed samples.