HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Some Naturally Occurring Substances: Food Items and Constituents, Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines and Mycotoxins.

Study Abstract

Limonene is, with the possible exception of α-pinene, the most frequently occurring natural monoterpene. It is a major constituent of the oils of citrus fruit peel and is found at lower levels in many fruits and vegetables. It occurs naturally in the d (or R)- and l (or S) optically active forms and as dl mixtures including the optically inactive racemate (dipentene). For example, the d form comprises 98–100% of the limonene in most citrus oils (family Rustaceae), whereas that in oil of citronella and oil of lemongrass (family Gramineae) is 96–100% l-limonene (Furia & Bellanca, 1975; Clayton & Clayton, 1981; Sax & Lewis, 1987; Mosandl et al., 1990).

Study Information

Lyon (FR): International Agency for Research on Cancer; 1993. (IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, No. 56.) d-LIMONENE.