Citrus hystrix, called the kaffir lime, makrut lime or Mauritius papeda is a citrus fruit native to tropical Southeast Asia and southern China. Its fruit and leaves are used in Southeast Asian cuisine and its essential oil is used in perfumery. Its rind and crushed leaves emit an intense citrus fragrance. The leaves are the most frequently used part of the plant, fresh, dried, or frozen. The leaves are widely used in Thai and Lao cuisine and Cambodian cuisine. They can use the juice or oil of the fruit and leaves and apply them topically to the affected areas, especially where they experience pain or discomfort. Even consuming the fruit or its juice will have the same effect. Since kaffir lime possesses anti-inflammatory properties, this fruit and its leaves are also a good remedy for headaches and migraines.

A study on kaffir lime leaf demonstrated its anti-oxidant capacity with various experiments and determined its total phenolic content and flavonoid content. The major flavonoids were hesperetin, peonidin, myricetin, cyanidin, and isorhamnetin.