Mandarin (Citrus reticulate) Research

Latin Name: Citrus reticulate 

Family: Rutaceae

RESEARCH

The listings of research below represent a compilation of scientific articles found on the species, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  Research found is catalogued by therapeutic action.  This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use.

GENERAL

• Tisserand, R. & Young, R. (2014).  Essential Oil Safety.  Second Edition.  Churchill, Livingstone, Elsevier.
• The therapeutic actions of hesperidin, a constituent found in citrus peels, was reviewed.  Studies showed potential in treating the following:  neurological, psychiatric, and cardiovascular disorders, related to anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, lipid-lowering, and insulin-sensitizing properties.  From: Li, C., & Schluesener, H. (2017). Health-promoting effects of the citrus flavanone hesperidin. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 57(3), 613-631.
• Guzmán Gutiérrez, S. L., Reyes Chilpa, R., & Bonilla Jaime, H. (2014). Medicinal plants for the treatment of “nervios”, anxiety, and depression in Mexican Traditional Medicine. Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia, 24(5), 591-608.
• Scientific research on the therapeutic actions of Citrus ssp were reviewed.  Mandarin showed anti-proliferative, chemoprotective, anti-cancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities.  From:  Dosoky, N., & Setzer, W. (2018). Biological activities and safety of Citrus spp. essential oils. International journal of molecular sciences, 19(7), 1966.

ANTIMICROBIAL / ANTIBACTERIAL / ANTIFUNGAL / ANTI-CANDIDA

• Citrus limon (lemon), Citrus paradisi (grapefruit), Citrus bergamia (bergamot), Citrus aurantium (bitter orange), Citrus sinensis (sweet orange), and Citrus reticulata (mandarin) showed antimicrobial activity against multiple bacteria, fungi, and candida species in vitro.  From:  Kirbaşlar, F. G., Tavman, A., Dülger, B., & Türker, G. (2009). Antimicrobial activity of Turkish Citrus peel oils. Pak J Bot, 41(6), 3207-12.
• Plant oils of 52 species were tested against key bacteria.  Lemongrass, oregano and bay inhibited all organisms, and rosewood, coriander, palmarosa, tea tree, niaouli, peppermint, spearmint, sage and marjoram inhibited all organisms except P. aeruginosa.  Carrot, patchouli, sandalwood and vetiver inhibited Gram-positive bacteria and C. albicans. Myrrh and cypress inhibited only Gram-positive organisms and mandarin oil inhibited only C. albicans.  From:  Hammer, K. A., Carson, C. F., & Riley, T. V. (1999). Antimicrobial activity of essential oils and other plant extracts. Journal of applied microbiology, 86(6), 985-990.
• Low concentrations of the lemon, orange, and mandarin essential oils along with a mild heat treatment showed synergistic lethal effects against spoiling and pathogenic food microorganisms.  From: Espina, L., Somolinos, M., Lorán, S., Conchello, P., García, D., & Pagán, R. (2011). Chemical composition of commercial citrus fruit essential oils and evaluation of their antimicrobial activity acting alone or in combined processes. Food control, 22(6), 896-902.
• Orange, lemon and mandarin showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in vitro.  From: Frassinetti, Stefania & Caltavuturo, L & Cini, Marianna & Della Croce, Clara & Maserti, Biancaelena. (2011). Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Citrus spp. Journal of Essential Oil Research – J ESSENT OIL RES. 23. 27-31. 10.
• Lemon, mandarin, grapefruit, and orange oils were antifungal against food spoilage molds.  From:  Viuda-Martos, M., Ruiz-Navajas, Y., Fernández-López, J., & Pérez-Álvarez, J. (2008). Antifungal activity of lemon (Citrus lemon L.), mandarin (Citrus reticulata L.), grapefruit (Citrus paradisi L.) and orange (Citrus sinensis L.) essential oils. Food control, 19(12), 1130-1138.
• Orange, grapefruit, mandarin, and tangerine essential oils demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial actions in vitro.  From:  Javed, S., Javaid, A., Nawaz, S., Saeed, M. K., Mahmood, Z., Siddiqui, S. Z., & Ahmad, R. (2014). Phytochemistry, GC-MS analysis, antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of essential oil from five citrus species. Journal of Agricultural Science, 6(3), 201.

ANTIOXIDANT

• Orange, grapefruit, mandarin, and tangerine essential oils demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial actions in vitro.  From:  Javed, S., Javaid, A., Nawaz, S., Saeed, M. K., Mahmood, Z., Siddiqui, S. Z., & Ahmad, R. (2014). Phytochemistry, GC-MS analysis, antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of essential oil from five citrus species. Journal of Agricultural Science, 6(3), 201.
• Orange, lemon and mandarin showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in vitro.  From: Frassinetti, Stefania & Caltavuturo, L & Cini, Marianna & Della Croce, Clara & Maserti, Biancaelena. (2011). Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Citrus spp. Journal of Essential Oil Research – J ESSENT OIL RES. 23. 27-31. 10.

INSECTICIDAL / LARVACIDAL

• Against the sciarid fly, good insecticidal activity was achieved with essential oils of caraway seed, lemongrass, mandarin, nutmeg, cade (Juniperus oxycedrus L.), spearmint, cumin, and red thyme.  From:  Park, I. K., Kim, J. N., Lee, Y. S., Lee, S. G., Ahn, Y. J., & Shin, S. C. (2008). Toxicity of plant essential oils and their components against Lycoriella ingenua (Diptera: Sciaridae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 101(1), 139-144.
• Phytochemical extracts from citrus fruit peels (Citrus sinensis, Citrus limonum,Citrus aurantifolia, Citrus reticulata and Citrus vitus) at a dilution of 20-25% applied topically on human volunteers repelled insects for 2-5 hours.  From:  Effiom, O. E., Avoaja, D. A., & Ohaeri, C. C. (2012). Mosquito repellent activity of phytochemical extracts from peels of citrus fruit species. Global J Sci Front Res Interdisc, 12(1).

ANTI-CANCER / ANTI-TUMOR  ​

• Both mandarin essential oil and limonene anti-tumor growth inhibition against lung and liver cancer.  From: Manassero, C. A., Girotti, J. R., Mijailovsky, S., García de Bravo, M., & Polo, M. (2013). In vitro comparative analysis of antiproliferative activity of essential oil from mandarin peel and its principal component limonene. Natural product research, 27(16), 1475-1478.

Compiled By: Kathy Sadowski

Updatted: 6/18/19