Kaffir lime leaf (Citrus hysteria, Citrus hystrix) is commonly known as ‘Limau Purut’, is a native plant to Southeast Asia.

Kaffir lime leaf is rich in flavonoids, tannins and other antioxidant-rich nutrients. Its main active compound are Citronellal and Citronellol, which contributes to its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.

Besides widely known for its culinary use, Kaffir lime leaf is traditionally used for teeth and gums health, digestive health as well as stress management.

Health Benefits:

1. Infection Control

Research shows kaffir lime leaves has protective effects against various bacterial strains due to its strong antibacterial properties.

Table 1: Antibacterial activity of the Essential oil of Kaffir lime (leaves & peel)

2. Diabetes Management

With its flavonoids content, Kaffir Lime Leaves supplementation is beneficial for improving blood sugar level for the management of Type II Diabetes.

Usage:

Food and beverage as well as Health Supplement

Reference:

1. Husni et al. 2021, “Chemical Content Profile of Essential Oil from Kaffir Lime (Citrus hystrix DC.) in Tanah Datar Regency and Antibacterial Activity”, Advances in Health Science Research, vol. 40, pp. 174 – 181
2. Siti et al. 2022, “Review Potential Therapeutic Effects of Citrus hystrix DC and Its Bioactive Compounds on Metabolic Disorders”, Pharmaceuticals, vol. 15 (167), pp. 1 – 21