Herb Origin in Latin: Citrus paradisi
English Name: Grapefruit
CAS No.: 10236-47-2
Brief introduction
Naringin is the major flavonoid glycoside in grapefruit and gives grapefruit juice its bitter taste. It is metabolized to the flavanone naringenin in humans.
Both naringin and hesperetin, which are the aglycones of naringin and hesperidin, occur naturally in citrus fruits. Naringin exerts a variety of pharmacological effects such as antioxidant activity, blood lipid lowering, anticancer activity, and inhibition of selected drug metabolizing cytochrome P450 enzymes, including CYP3A4 and CYP1A2, which may result in drug drug interactions in vivo. Ingestion of naringin and related flavonoids can also affect the intestinal absorption of certain drugs, leading to either an increase or decrease in circulating drug levels.
Introduction of herb
A herb is a plant that is valued for flavor, scent, medicinal or other qualities other than its food value. They are used in cooking, as medicines, and for spiritual purposes. Herbs have a variety of uses including culinary and medicinal usage. General usage differs between culinary herbs and medicinal herbs. Herbs are “generally recognized as safe” by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), at least at concentrations commonly found in foods. Medicinal plants continue to provide valuable therapeutic agents, both in modern medicine and traditional system. The leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, root bark, inner bark (cambium), berries and sometimes the pericarp or other portions of the plant might be considered in medicinal or spiritual use. In the medicinal uses, herbs (plant) contain phytochemicals that we have effects on the body.
Function
1. Cholesterol-lowering effect, help treating diabetes
2. Naringin (and grapefruit) can interfere with certain drugs including calcium channel blockers, sedatives, cholesterol lowering drugs, and estrogen
3. Naringin stimulates the effect of caffeine and could therefore increase its fat burning action.
Application
1. As the raw materials of drugs for bacterial infections, sedative and anti-cancer, it is widely used in medical field;
2. As the product of sedative and boosting immune system, it is widely used in field of health product;
3. As the product of leisure and boosting immune system,it is widely used in cosmetics industry.