ABSTRACT
Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the action of Citrus limonum essential oil to control free radical-induced lipid peroxidation and preventing tissue damage in skin. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Internal Medicine (University of Roma “Tor Vergata) and A.R.P.A (Aging Research, Prevention and Therapy Association, www.antiaging. it), between January 2010 and June 2011. Methodology: The essential oil was subjected to GC-MS analysis. The superoxide anion scavenging activity of essential oil was evaluated by the enzymatic hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase system. The same oil diluted in DMSO or grape-seed oil was spread on the face of human volunteers after UV exposition. A sample of skin lipids was collected and the presence of peroxyl radicals was detected based on the measurement of light emitted (chemiluminescence) when the excited carbonyl and singlet oxygen decay to ground state. Results: Our data demonstrate that the lemon essential oil is more active than - tocopherol against *O2 - and peroxide free radical inhibition at 1:100 dilution. A protocol for controlling free radical-induced lipid peroxidation in human skin was thus proposed. Conclusion: The scavenging action of lemon essential oil could have a practical application for treating human skin against oxidative damage.