Quality Assessment of Citrus limon (L.) Essential Oils Available on the Turkish Market According to European Pharmacopoeia 10.0 Criteria

Kevser Özdemir Bayçınar; Eda Peker; Tuğba Buse Şentürk; Timur Hakan Barak

doi:10.12991/jrespharm.1785126

Quality Assessment of Citrus limon (L.) Essential Oils Available on the Turkish Market According to European Pharmacopoeia 10.0 Criteria

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the compliance of lemon essential oil (LEO) samples available in pharmacies and online platforms in Türkiye with European Pharmacopoeia 10.0 (Ph. Eur. 10.0) standards and provide data regarding product quality in the market. Fourteen distinct commercial LEO samples (five from pharmacies and nine from online platforms) were subjected to physicochemical analyses as outlined in the European Pharmacopoeia (EP), including assessments of appearance, relative density, refractive index, optical rotation, and residue on evaporation. The phytochemical profile of the samples was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) techniques. The majority of the analyzed samples failed to meet the EP criteria for essential quality attributes, despite their labels as "100% pure." Significant variations detected in the quantities of principal components, such as limonene, citral (neral, geranial), sabinene, and γ-terpinene. Only one sample (A5) successfully passed all pharmacopoeial evaluations. Citropene was not detected in the HPTLC analysis across six samples. Sample A1 failed all GC-MS parameters. Furthermore, certain samples revealed fixed oil residue or post-evaporation residues indicative of possible adulterations. No substantial difference was observed between pharmacy and non-pharmacy channels regarding compliance with the pharmacopoeia. The results indicated inadequacies in quality control and non-adherence to pharmacopoeial requirements for lemon oil products marketed in Türkiye. This circumstance might endanger consumer safety and the possible therapeutic effectiveness of the products. The implementation of quality standards, national reference profiles, and mandated pharmacopoeia analyses might substantially enhance the production of reliable, effective, and verifiable herbal products.

Keywords

Project Number

TÜBİTAK 2209-A

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Pharmacognosy

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Kevser Özdemir Bayçınar ^*
0000-0002-5679-1417
Türkiye

Eda Peker
0000-0001-7662-8310
Türkiye

Tuğba Buse Şentürk
0000-0002-0138-2480
Türkiye

Timur Hakan Barak
0000-0002-7434-3175
Türkiye

Publication Date

October 6, 2026

Submission Date

September 16, 2025

Acceptance Date

August 21, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 30 Number: 5

DOI

https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.1785126

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA93TY42BE

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Özdemir Bayçınar, K., Peker, E., Şentürk, T. B., & Barak, T. H. (2026). Quality Assessment of Citrus limon (L.) Essential Oils Available on the Turkish Market According to European Pharmacopoeia 10.0 Criteria. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, 30(5), 1341-1351. https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.1785126

AMA

1.Özdemir Bayçınar K, Peker E, Şentürk TB, Barak TH. Quality Assessment of Citrus limon (L.) Essential Oils Available on the Turkish Market According to European Pharmacopoeia 10.0 Criteria. J. Res. Pharm. 2026;30(5):1341-1351. doi:10.12991/jrespharm.1785126

Chicago

Özdemir Bayçınar, Kevser, Eda Peker, Tuğba Buse Şentürk, and Timur Hakan Barak. 2026. “Quality Assessment of Citrus Limon (L.) Essential Oils Available on the Turkish Market According to European Pharmacopoeia 10.0 Criteria”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30 (5): 1341-51. https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.1785126.

EndNote

Özdemir Bayçınar K, Peker E, Şentürk TB, Barak TH (October 1, 2026) Quality Assessment of Citrus limon (L.) Essential Oils Available on the Turkish Market According to European Pharmacopoeia 10.0 Criteria. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30 5 1341–1351.

IEEE

[1]K. Özdemir Bayçınar, E. Peker, T. B. Şentürk, and T. H. Barak, “Quality Assessment of Citrus limon (L.) Essential Oils Available on the Turkish Market According to European Pharmacopoeia 10.0 Criteria”, J. Res. Pharm., vol. 30, no. 5, pp. 1341–1351, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.12991/jrespharm.1785126.

ISNAD

Özdemir Bayçınar, Kevser - Peker, Eda - Şentürk, Tuğba Buse - Barak, Timur Hakan. “Quality Assessment of Citrus Limon (L.) Essential Oils Available on the Turkish Market According to European Pharmacopoeia 10.0 Criteria”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30/5 (October 1, 2026): 1341-1351. https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.1785126.

JAMA

1.Özdemir Bayçınar K, Peker E, Şentürk TB, Barak TH. Quality Assessment of Citrus limon (L.) Essential Oils Available on the Turkish Market According to European Pharmacopoeia 10.0 Criteria. J. Res. Pharm. 2026;30:1341–1351.

MLA

Özdemir Bayçınar, Kevser, et al. “Quality Assessment of Citrus Limon (L.) Essential Oils Available on the Turkish Market According to European Pharmacopoeia 10.0 Criteria”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, vol. 30, no. 5, Oct. 2026, pp. 1341-5, doi:10.12991/jrespharm.1785126.

Vancouver

1.Kevser Özdemir Bayçınar, Eda Peker, Tuğba Buse Şentürk, Timur Hakan Barak. Quality Assessment of Citrus limon (L.) Essential Oils Available on the Turkish Market According to European Pharmacopoeia 10.0 Criteria. J. Res. Pharm. 2026 Oct. 1;30(5):1341-5. doi:10.12991/jrespharm.1785126