Extraction and evaluation of antimicrobial activities of essential oils from orange peel (Citrus nobilis) grown in Can Tho City, Vietnam

ABSTRACT: This study determined the extraction conditions, chemical composition, and antimicrobial activities of the essential oils of Citrus nobilis. The results illustrated that soaking in the 9% (w/v) NaCl solution for 2 h with a sample and solvent ratio of 1:3 (w/v) and a subsequent extraction time of 45 min yielded the highest extraction efficiency, reaching 3.66% (w/w). The main chemical components of the essential oils were limonene (90.42%), β-myrcene (4.7%), and α-pinene (1.22%). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at the density of 5x104, 5x105, and 5x106 cells/mL of Escherichia coli were 100, 125, and 125 mg/mL, respectively; for Staphylococcus aureus were 75, 100, and 125 mg/mL, respectively; and for Bacillus cereus were 50, 75, and 100 mg/mL, respectively. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) at densities of 5x104, 5x105, 5x106 cells/mL of E. coli were 175, 225, 225 mg/mL, S. aureus were 150, 200, 225 mg/mL, and B. cereus were 125, 175, 200 mg/mL, respectively. The inhibitory activities of Aspergillus flavus of orange essential oils according to the agar dilution method at concentrations of 0.025-0.1%) on the 5th day were 8.84-30.61%