HESPERIDIN

Hesperidin is a flavonoid, a natural substance found in citrus fruits like orange, lemon, lime, and grape, and mandarin, this gives the color and taste to citrus fruits. This component of the plant is very important for its medicinal benefit. Various researches have established Hesperidin’s several biological properties like anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, which make it a valuable therapeutic candidate.

Another name: 

Citrus bio flavones

Botanical source: 

Citrus aurantium L.

Which part of the plant is used to obtain Hesperidin?     

Hesperidin is isolated largely from the pulp, skin, and membranous parts of citrus fruits.

Availability worldwide:

Hesperidin availability depends on its demand. The hesperidin is available in different grades like food grade, cosmetic grade, or pharmaceutical grade. This grade defines its applications in different sectors for example food and beverage, cosmetic, dietary supplement, and pharmaceutical industry.

Due to the health benefits of hesperidin, its demand in dietary supplements and the pharmaceutical industry is growing. The report of Future market insight (FMI) on Hesperidin tells that public health awareness and inclination towards natural dietary supplements resulting in the expansion of the Hesperidin market globally.

Hesperidin was first isolated by Lebreton in 1927. Earlier it was reported that hesperidin has vitamin-like activity, later research on the bioactivity of hesperidin proved its various biological properties like anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, etc.

There are many established ways to extract hesperidin from different fruits. A few of the methods are:

Extraction of Hesperidin pulp /peel of orange /kinnow / bael: 

• Reflux extraction
• Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE)

Therapeutic benefits of hesperidin 

Hesperidin possesses a lot of pharmacological properties like-

• Anti-inflammatory- The anti-inflammatory activity decreases the inflammatory cytokines and enzymes and inhibits angiogenesis and metastasis.
• Anti-oxidant- It is natural scavenger of free radicals and considered as one of the best antioxidant.
• Anti-diabetic- The Hesperidin reduces the levels of HbA1c (glycosylated hemoglobin) and glucose, exhibiting anti-diabetic activity.
• Vasoprotective- Reduces the capillary permeability and improves the capillary’s health.
• Anti-osteoporotic- It has bone strengthening ability.
• Anticancer activity- The anticancer activity of hesperidin is possibly by its antioxidant properties and by the modulation of multiple molecular pathways.

Interesting fact of Hesperidin:

• Oranges, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, and Tangerines are rich sources of hesperidin.
• The bitter compound found in bitter orange, called Neohesperidin is an isomer of hesperidin.
• Peppermint even not being a citrus plant has significant hesperidin content.
• Hesperidin not only gives color and flavor to citrus fruit but plays an important role in the defense mechanism of plants.
• Hesperidin supplements can help you in dealing with varicose veins, weakness and cramps in the legs at night, too much swelling and itching.

Caution:

Hesperidin has the property of slowing the process of blood clotting; this increases the risk of bleeding if taken with other medications like anticoagulant or antiplatelet or if getting surgery.

It is found that if Hesperidin is taken for very long without a doctor’s consultation, it can have some side effects like diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and contact dermatitis.

Conclusion:

Hesperidin being a natural component obtained from citrus fruits possesses a very minimal chance of toxicity. The wide availability of different types of citrus fruit and the easy extraction process of hesperidin makes it low cost and beneficial in many health conditions like inflammation, blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, neuroprotective disorders. Hesperidin alone or in combination with other components is very useful for therapeutic purposes when taken under medical supervision.