Ethnopharmacology, chemical composition and functions of Citrus aurantium L

Abstract

As a drug and food homologous medicine, Citrus aurantium L. (C. aurantium) in the Rutaceae family, also known as sour orange or bitter orange, is a small citrus tree about five meters tall with scented white flowers. It has the efficacy of ‘‘regulating qi and broadening the stomach; appetizer and vomit-relieving; regulating qi and dredging the liver; invigorating; clearing heat; and detoxification.’’ Furthermore, C. aurantium can be utilized in food applications such as tea, marmalade, preservatives, and flavorings, and in a wide range of medicinal applications, including treatments for insomnia, anticonvulsants, antidiabetics, antidepressants, anti-obesity, and gastroprotective drugs. To date, 203 compounds of C. aurantium have been identified, including terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Pharmacological studies have indicated that C. aurantium possesses antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, anticancer, antidiabetic, antidepressant, gastroprotective, and hepatoprotective properties. The chemical composition, pharmacology, medicine, and food applications of C. aurantium are reviewed in this article to provide a basis for the subsequent development of food and medicine.

Graphical abstract