Description
It is a shrub from the Rutaceae family, indigenous to Asia, 5 to 10 m high, considered to be evergreen. The ripe fruits have elongated spherical form and the lemon peel has colours varying from light green to bright yellow. The fruit reaches maturity in late autumn, in the Northern hemisphere.
The fruit pulp is rich in juice, rich in acids and vitamin C, which has ensured that the fruit - due to its easy conservation - is distributed around the world, in order to prevent scurvy.
The distinctive sour taste of the lemon juice makes it a key ingredient in multiple dishes around the world.
Use
The juice with antiseptic properties due to its low pH is used from first aid products to treatments against sore throat.
Having a high content of vitamin C, the juice is often used for its benefits in herbal medicine. At the same time, with a high content in natural antioxidants (flavonoids), it is assumed that it could play a role against the degenerative diseases of the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease.
It is used more and more in cosmetics to boost skin’s elasticity.