Evaluating citrus juice: A comparative study of physicochemical, nutraceutical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of citrus juices from Nepal

Citrus fruit juice is highly beneficial to human health, providing essential nutrients like carbohydrates, vitamins, phytochemicals, and antioxidants. Juices from citrus fruit varieties grown in various regions of Nepal were analyzed for their physicochemical properties, nutraceutical content, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The pH of the juices ranged between 2.09 and 3.62, while total soluble solids (TSS) varied from 7° Brix to 12.3 °Brix. Among varieties, <i>C. aurantifolia</i> exhibited the highest titratable acidity at 7.39 g/100 mL. <i>C. limon</i> showed the highest moisture content (94.74 %), <i>C. reticulata</i> had the highest carbohydrate content (14.6 ± 0.4 g/100 mL, n = 3), and <i>C. aurantifolia</i> presented the highest protein content (34.1 ± 0.7 mg/100 mL). <i>C. sinensis</i> recorded the highest flavonoid content (91.4 ± 0.3 mg/100 mL), <i>C. reticulata</i> had the highest phenolic content (65.8 ± 0.6 mg/100 mL), and <i>C. limon</i> exhibited the highest ascorbic acid content (45.1 ± 0.4 mg/100 mL). The methanolic extracts of all citrus fruit juices demonstrated robust antioxidant properties, as determined by DPPH assay. Notably, <i>C. limon</i> and <i>C. aurantifolia</i> juice extracts demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against a wide range of microbes. This study highlights the variation in nutrient and phytochemicals compositions among different citrus fruit juices, underscoring the nutritional and medicinal benefits of citrus species.