This laboratory study extracts essential oils from fresh and dried kumquat leaves and compares antioxidant, antibacterial and cancer-cell proliferation effects as an initial screen for further product research.
Key findings
- Dried-leaf oil showed antioxidant IC₅₀ 54.2±3.3 mg/mL versus 60±0.73 mg/mL for fresh oil. It inhibited B. subtilis and S. aureus but not E. coli, with dried-oil MIC/MBC of 3.9 mg/mL and 7.8 mg/mL respectively. Both oils reduced cancer-cell viability at tested concentrations.
Why this matters globally
Agricultural leaf material could provide leads for bio-based products or preservatives if active components, standardisation, stability, toxicity and real-system performance are established.
Thai researcher contribution
Jaturon Thipwong of Suratthani Rajabhat University is the corresponding author, using kumquat-leaf material from southern Thailand.
Limitations to consider
This is in vitro evidence; sample replication and chemical-composition detail require full-text review. Effective concentrations are relatively high, cancer-cell effects may reflect nonspecific toxicity, and no normal-cell comparator, animal, pharmacokinetic or human evidence is presented.