II.

2 Cytrus hystix
II.2.1 Introduction
Cytrus hystix is latin name for kaffir lime. Kaffir lime is a plant with a lot of use. The
most is for cuisine and source of vitamin C. But, with its huge used, there is a downside. It
produces some wastes, one of them is the peel which contain the most of flavonoids such as
hesperidin, tangeretin, etc (1,5)
II.2.2 Taxonomy
Kingdom : Plantae
Subkingdom : Tracheobionta
Superdivision : Spermatophyta
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Subclass : Rosidae
Order : Sapindales
Family : Rutaceae
Genus : Cytrus DC.
Species : Cytrus hystix DC. (2)
II.2.3 Morphology
Cytrus hystrix has two unique characteristics. The fruits have very rough and bumpy
peel with green-colored. The leaves are “twin” due to the presence of a large winged petiole
Evergreen thorny tree, 2.5-3 m tall. In trunk and branches there are strong and sharp spines
which are up to 4 cm long of trunk. Leaves blunt-pointed, usually of medium size can be as
high 8 to 12 by 3 to 5 cm, more or less irregular at the tip and sometimes slightly
emarginated; petiole winged, usually two-thirds to three-fourths as long as the leaf blade,
broadly rounded and blunt at the base, often subtruncate at the tip, often with more or less
crenate margins. Flowers small, stamens short, entirely free. Fruits very bumpy or
tuberculate, 4 cm wide, segments 10-12, pulp-vesiccles provided with a slender very long
stalk which suddenly enlarges toward the free end, forming a small round or oval body
pointed at the tip, yellow at maturity. (3)
II.2.4 Distibution
Kaffir lime is a fruit of South East Asia especially in Thailand, Laos, Indonesia or Malaysia.
(3)
II.2.5 Uses of Kaffir lime
The potential use of kaffir lime is almost found in every part of the plant. The leaves
are used to relieve nausea, dispel gas, and control normal cycle of mensturation. The fruits
are used for cough supression, shampoo, and source of vitamin C. Both of them are used too
for cuisine. The extracts have antioxidant activity, radical scavenging ability, antimicrobial
activity, antinflamatory activity, and anticancer agent (5)
II.2.6 Content of Kaffir Lime
A single fruit of roughly 67 grams contains the following nutrients:
 Energy 20 kcal
Total dietary fiber 2g
Sugars 1g
Carbohydrates 7g
Calcium 20 mg
Sodium 1 mg
Iron 0.36 mg
Vitamin A, IU 50 IU
Vitamin C (total ascorbic acid) 19.2 mg (4)
Besides that, it also contains flavonoids such as hesperidin, tangeretin, which are used for
anticancer agent (6)
II. 2.7 Effect of Kaffir Lime
In folk medicine, the juice of Kaffir lime is said to promote gum health and is
commonly used in brushing teeth and gums. The essential oils in the fruit are incorporated
into various ointments, and the rind is an ingredient in medical tonics believed to be good for
the blood. Like lemon grass and galanga, the rind is also known have beneficial properties for
the digestive system. (6) As we know, kaffir lime also contains flavonoids as antioxidant such
as hesperidin and tangeretin, which can be used for leukemia’s treatment. Both of them have
specific gene to trigger leukemia’s cell to be apoptosis.

 Flavonoid as antioxidant
Reactive Oxygen Species) are a type of of oxygen-derived free radical which have role in cell
injury. It is produced normally in cells during mithocondrial repiration and energy generation,
but they are degraded and removed by cellular defence systems. When the production is more
than normal or scavenging systems are ineffective, the result of an excess of free radical is
called oxidative stress. It is pathological condition and lead to cancer. Antioxidant helps the
oxidant to be degraded by either block the initiation of free radical formation or inactive free
radicals (8), and redox-active metal sequestration, from indirect antioxidant to direct
antioxidant (7)
2. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Lime_(fruit)
3. http://www.fruitipedia.com/kaffir_lime_citrus_hystrix.htm
4. http://www.onlyfoods.net/kaffir-lime.html
5. Cytotoxic effects of crude kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix,
DC.) leaf fractional extracts on leukemic cell lines
6. The citrus flavonoid hesperidin induces p53 and inhibits NF-jB
activation in order to trigger apoptosis in NALM-6 cells:
involvement of PPARc-dependent mechanism
7. Kaffir lime leaf and peel
8. Robbin
Mechanism of Action

Hesperidin, tangeretin, and procyanidin are group of flavonoid which have anticancer effect.
They could act either in extracellular, cytoplasm, or nucleus. They affect the NF-kB which
associate with gene transcription and resistency in cell apoptosis. Hesperidin via PPARƔ will
inhibit gene NALM-6 (the preB cell) proliferate.
 Signaling

IK-B
Hesperidin Via PPARƔ NF-kB Phosporilated Procyanidin

Down regulation Up regulation Gene

BCl-2 p53 Transcription
Tangeretin

Up regulation
BAX
NALM-6 HL-60

Induce
Apoptosis Cancer cell
Inhibit
arrested
Lead to