Citrus aurantium

Related Terms

Aurantii pericarpium, auraptene, bergamot aromatherapy oil, bergamot orange, bergapten, beta-daucosterol(XI), beta-sitosterol, bigaradier, bitter orange extract, bitter orange peel, chisil, Citri aurantii fructus (CAF), Citri grandis pericarpium (CGP), Citrus amara, Citrus aurantium, Citrus aurantiumdulcis, Citrus aurantium extract (CAE), Citrus aurantium L., Citrus aurantium L. var. amara, Citrus aurantiumsinensis (CAS), Citrus aurantium ssp. bergamia, Citrus aurantium var. amara, Citrus aurantium var. dulcis (sweet orange), Citrus bigarradia, citrus essential oils (EOs), citrus extract, Citrus L. Rutaceae, citrus peel extract, Citrus silension (CS), Citrus unshiu Marcovitch, Citrus vulgaris, Citrus xaurantium, corteza de naranja (Spanish), Cyathofora Y.Tanaka, Daidai, flavanones, furocoumarins, fructus Aurantii, Goutou orange, Goutou sour orange, green orange, hesperidin, hordenine, Kijitsu, limonene, marmalade, marmin, meta-synephrine, m-synephrine, naranja amarga (Spanish), naringin, neohesperidin, neroli oil, N-methyltyramine, nobiretin, nonvolatile fraction, octopamine, oil of bergamot, oxedrine, oxypeucedanin, oxy-psoralen (5-[(6',7'-dihydroxy-3',7'-dimethyl-2-octenyl)], para-octopamine, para-synephrine, pericarps of Citrus grandis, phenethylamine alkaloids, phenylephrine, pomeranze, Poncirus trifoliata x C. aurantium sour orange, p-synephrine, Rutaceae (family), satsuma mandarins, Seville, Seville orange, shangzhou zhiqiao, sour orange, sour orange flower, sour orange juice, sour orange leaf, sweet orange, synephrine, synephrine alkaloids, synephrine HCl, synthetic synephrine, tangeretin, tyramine, volatile oil, xiangcheng, xiucheng, zhiqino, zhi qiao, zhi shi.
Combination product examples: Advantra Z? (Nutratech, Inc.); dannang recipe no. 2 (aucklandia root, red peony root, giant knotweed rhizome, scutellaria root, honeysuckle flower, forsythia fruit, rhubarb, immature bitter orange, magnolia bark, peach kernel, red sage root, licorice root, boiled with water); Lean System 7T; Metabolift Ephedra-Free Formula? (Twinlab Corporation); NutrexT Lipo-6x; Rauvolfia-Citrus tea (foliage of Rauwolfia vomitoria and bitter orange fruit); Stacker 2 Ephedra-Free (NVE Pharmaceuticals); Xenadrine EFX? (Cytodyne Technologies); Zhizhu? (rhizoma Atractylodis macrocephalae and fructus Aurantii immaturus; either Citrus aurantium L. (IFCA) or Citrus sinensis Osbeck (IFCS))

Background

Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) comes from a flowering evergreen tree of tropical Asia. Bitter orange trees are now widely grown in the Mediterranean region and elsewhere.
Bitter orange contains synephrine, a compound similar to ephedrine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of ephedrine-containing dietary supplements. Some products previously containing ephedrine have been reformulated to include bitter orange
Bitter orange is commonly used in dietary supplements for fat loss and as an appetite suppressant. It is claimed that bitter orange is an effective aid to weight loss and a safe alternative to ephedra. Various adverse effects have been contributed to bitter orange or p-synephrine. However, there is little concrete evidence to suggest the lack of safety of these products.

Evidence Table

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *
These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *


Use of bitter orange before surgery improved anxiety. A combination product with bitter orange improved symptoms associated with gallbladder removal. However, the effect of bitter orange alone is unclear. Further research is needed.

 C


Use of bitter orange before surgery improved anxiety. A combination product with bitter orange improved symptoms associated with gallbladder removal. However, the effect of bitter orange alone is unclear. Further research is needed.

 C


Limited research indicates that a combination product with bitter orange may improve symptoms of aging. However, more, high-quality studies are needed.

 C


Limited research indicates that a combination product with bitter orange may improve symptoms of aging. However, more, high-quality studies are needed.

 C


Bitter orange has been used in aromatherapy. Bitter orange does not seem to reduce combative, resistive behaviors in people with dementia. Further studies are needed on this topic.

 C


Bitter orange has been used in aromatherapy. Bitter orange does not seem to reduce combative, resistive behaviors in people with dementia. Further studies are needed on this topic.

 C


Limited research reports that bitter orange may reduce blood sugar after meals and during fasting. Further studies on the effect of bitter orange alone are needed.

 C


Limited research reports that bitter orange may reduce blood sugar after meals and during fasting. Further studies on the effect of bitter orange alone are needed.

 C


A combination of synephrine (a component of bitter orange) and caffeine may make exercise feel easier and increase blood pressure and blood sugar. Further research on bitter orange is needed.

 C


A combination of synephrine (a component of bitter orange) and caffeine may make exercise feel easier and increase blood pressure and blood sugar. Further research on bitter orange is needed.

 C


Preliminary research shows promising results using bitter orange oil as an antifungal agent. However, further evidence is needed to confirm these results.

 C


Preliminary research shows promising results using bitter orange oil as an antifungal agent. However, further evidence is needed to confirm these results.

 C


Early research suggests that bitter orange pills may benefit people with indigestion. Further research is needed before a conclusion may be made.

 C


Early research suggests that bitter orange pills may benefit people with indigestion. Further research is needed before a conclusion may be made.

 C


A component of bitter orange, p-synephrine, lacked effect on mood and energy. Further research is needed before a conclusion may be made.

 C


A component of bitter orange, p-synephrine, lacked effect on mood and energy. Further research is needed before a conclusion may be made.

 C


Research suggests that weight loss may be enhanced by a bitter orange product. Additional high-quality studies on bitter orange alone are needed.

 C


Research suggests that weight loss may be enhanced by a bitter orange product. Additional high-quality studies on bitter orange alone are needed.

 C
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)

Tradition / Theory

The below uses are based on tradition, scientific theories, or limited research. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. There may be other proposed uses that are not listed below.

Dosing

Adults (18 years and older)
General: Up to 80 milligrams of p-synephrine (component of bitter orange) has been taken daily by mouth alone or in combination with other ingredients, including caffeine.
For an adjunct to surgery, one milliliter of bitter orange blossom per kilogram has been taken by mouth two hours before surgery.
For fungal infections, a 25% mixture of bitter orange oil three times daily, 20% bitter orange oil in alcohol three times daily, and 100% bitter orange oil once daily have been applied to the skin.
For indigestion, six grams of Zhizhu? pills containing bitter orange and other herbs has been taken by mouth three times daily after meals for four weeks.
For mood enhancement, V-8? juice containing 50 milligrams of p-synephrine from bitter orange extract (Advantra Z?) has been taken by mouth.
For weight loss, up to 80 milligrams of p-synephrine has been taken by mouth daily.

Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects.

Interactions

Interactions with Drugs
Bitter orange may lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised when using medications that may also lower blood sugar. People taking drugs for diabetes by mouth or insulin should be monitored closely by a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist. Medication adjustments may be necessary.
Bitter orange may interfere with the way the body processes certain drugs using the liver's cytochrome P450 enzyme system. As a result, the levels of these drugs may be increased in the blood and may cause increased effects or potentially serious adverse reactions. People using any medications should check the package insert and speak with a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist, about possible interactions.
Bitter orange may cause low blood pressure. Caution is advised in people taking drugs that lower blood pressure.
Bitter orange contains substances that interact with MAOIs. Tyramine/tryptophan containing foods may cause dangerously high blood pressure when taken at the same time as agents that have properties similar to monoamine oxidase inhibitor drugs (MAOIs). These include protein foods that have been aged or preserved. Specific examples of foods are anchovies, avocados, bananas, bean curd, beer (alcohol-free or reduced-alcohol), bologna, caffeine (large amounts), caviar, champagne, cheeses (particularly aged, processed, or strong varieties), chocolate, dry sausage, fava beans, figs, herring (pickled), liver (particularly chicken), meat tenderizers, papaya, protein extracts or powder, raisins, salami, shrimp paste, sour cream, soy sauce, wine (particularly chianti), yeast extracts, and yogurt.
Bitter orange may also interact with agents for anxiety; agents for cancer and obesity; agents for depression, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs); agents for the brain, eyes, heart, lung, skin, stomach, or intestines; agents that increase sensitivity to light; agents that narrow blood vessels; alpha-blockers; antiadrenergics; antibiotics; antifungal agents; antihelminthics; anti-inflammatory agents; antiparasitics; antiviral agents; beta-blockers; caffeine; CNS stimulants; decongestants; insecticides; musculoskeletal agents; psoralens; QT-prolonging drugs; and thyroid hormones.

Attribution

This information is based on a systematic review of scientific literature edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).

Bibliography

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