Citrus reticulata Blanco: A Review on Chemical Composition and Biological Activities

This review compiled data on the chemical composition and biological activities of Citrus reticulata (Rutaceae) from 49 articles published between 2014 and 2024 in the Science Direct, PubMed, and SciELO databases. The fruit peel stands out for its abundance of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, especially limonene (up to 85.7%), and methoxylated flavonoids such as nobiletin, tangeretin, and hesperidin, which are known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. The essential oil demonstrated larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti and action against Leishmania amazonensis. It is concluded that the peel is rich in metabolites with high therapeutic and industrial potential, and further studies are recommended on mechanisms of action and applications in food, cosmetics, insecticides, and fertilizers.