Neroli (Citrus aurantium) Research

Latin Name: Citrus aurantium

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

• Lis-Balchin, M. (2006). Aromatherapy Science: A guide for healthcare professionals. London: Pharmaceutical Press.
• Petersen, D. (2015). Aromatherapy materia medica.  Essential oil monographs.  American College of Healthcare Sciences.
• 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.  Neroli showed sedative, anxiolytic, antidepressive, anticonvulsive, anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifunal, menopause symptome relieving, PMS symptom relieving, and aphrodisiac activities.  From:  Dosoky, N., & Setzer, W. (2018). Biological activities and safety of Citrus spp. essential oils. International journal of molecular sciences, 19(7), 1966.

SAFETY

• The d-limonene and benzoic acid are toxic constituents, skin patch test is required (Petersen, 2015).
• Very often adultered with petitgrain oil, other citrus oils, or synthetics (Lis-Balchin, 2006).  For this reason, it may be phototoxic.
• Due to frequent adulterations, avoid topical use of unknown brands.  Avoid during pregnancy and with young children (Lis-Balchin, 2006).

ANTI-CANCER

• Orange blossom water derivatives displayed the following actions: 3,3’-diindolylmethane showed antiproliferative activity against various human cancer cells, and turbomycin A demonstrated broad-range antibiotic activity.  From:  Roger, B., Burger, P., Baret, P., Chahboun, J., Cerantola, S., Fernandez, X., & Jeannot, V. (2016). Identification of antibiotic and antiproliferative compounds in natural orange blossom water. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 28(2), 89-95.
• This study assessed the phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity of Citrus aurantium bloom.  From:  Karimi, E., Oskoueian, E., Hendra, R., Oskoueian, A., & Jaafar, H. Z. (2012). Phenolic compounds characterization and biological activities of Citrus aurantium bloom. Molecules, 17(2), 1203-1218.

​HEPATOPROTECTIVE

• Tetramethoxyflavone and limonexic acid in Citrus aurantium could effectively protect hepatocytes against carbon tetrachloride induced injury.  From:  Lu, Q., Yang, L., Zhao, H. Y., Jiang, J. G., & Xu, X. L. (2013). Protective effect of compounds from the flowers of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatocyte injury. Food and chemical toxicology, 62, 432-435.

ANTIOXIDANT

• Peel, flower, and leaves of Citrus aurantium oils showed the old leaves had the maximum antioxidant activity, followed by the flowers, then the young leaves, and then the peel. From:  Sarrou, E., Chatzopoulou, P., Dimassi-Theriou, K., & Therios, I. (2013). Volatile constituents and antioxidant activity of peel, flowers and leaf oils of Citrus aurantium L. growing in Greece. Molecules, 18(9), 10639-10647.
• Neroli reduced cytotoxic oxidative lung dysfunction in animals.  From:  Soudani, N., Rafrafi, M., Amara, I. B., Hakim, A., Troudi, A., Zeghal, K. M., … & Zeghal, N. (2013). Oxidative stress-related lung dysfunction by chromium (VI): alleviation by Citrus aurantium L. Journal of physiology and biochemistry, 69(2), 239-253.
• Extracts from neroli showed antioxidant, antitumor, and antiinflammatory activity in vitro.  From:  Zhao, H. Y., Yang, L., Wei, J., Huang, M., & Jiang, J. G. (2012). Bioactivity evaluations of ingredients extracted from the flowers of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl. Food chemistry, 135(4), 2175-2181.
• This study assessed the phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity of Citrus aurantium bloom.  From:  Karimi, E., Oskoueian, E., Hendra, R., Oskoueian, A., & Jaafar, H. Z. (2012). Phenolic compounds characterization and biological activities of Citrus aurantium bloom. Molecules, 17(2), 1203-1218.
• Blossoms from Citrus aurantium showed antioxidant actions in vitro.  From:  Shen, C. Y., Wang, T. X., Zhang, X. M., & Jiang, J. G. (2017). Various Antioxidant Effects Were Attributed to Different Components in the Dried Blossoms of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 65(30), 6087-6092.

ANTIMICROBIAL / ANTIBACTERIAL / ANTIFUNGAL

• Neroli essential oil had antibacterial and antifungal activity against a variety of microbes.  From:  Ammar, A. H., Bouajila, J., Lebrihi, A., Mathieu, F., Romdhane, M., & Zagrouba, F. (2012). Chemical composition and in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Citrus aurantium l. flowers essential oil (Neroli oil). Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 15(21), 1034.
• Orange blossom water derivatives displayed the following actions: 3,3’-diindolylmethane showed antiproliferative activity against various human cancer cells, and turbomycin A demonstrated broad-range antibiotic activity.  From:  Roger, B., Burger, P., Baret, P., Chahboun, J., Cerantola, S., Fernandez, X., & Jeannot, V. (2016). Identification of antibiotic and antiproliferative compounds in natural orange blossom water. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 28(2), 89-95.
• Extracts from the peels, leaves, and flowers of Citrus aurantium showed varying antifungal action against P. italicum and P. digitatum in vitro.  From:  Trabelsi, D., Hamdane, A. M., Said, M. B., & Abdrrabba, M. (2016). Chemical composition and antifungal activity of essential oils from flowers, leaves and peels of Tunisian Citrus aurantium against Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum. Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants, 19(7), 1660-1674.

IMPROVED MEMORY

• Administration of Citrus aurantium flower extract significantly restored memory and learning impairments induced by scopolamine in rats, and may be usable in disorders like Alzheimers.  From:  Rahnama, Samira, Zahra Rabiei, Zahra Alibabaei, Shiva Mokhtari, Mahmoud Rafieian-kopaei, and Fatemeh Deris. “Anti-amnesic activity of Citrus aurantium flowers extract against scopolamine-induced memory impairments in rats.” Neurological Sciences 36, no. 4 (2015): 553-560.

PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME

• Aromotherapy using neroli reduced premenstrual syndrome symptoms in this study with 62 college students.  From:  Heydari, N., Abootalebi, M., Jamalimoghadam, N., Kasraeian, M., Emamghoreishi, M., & Akbarzadeh, M. (2018). Investigation of the effect of aromatherapy with Citrus aurantium blossom essential oil on premenstrual syndrome in university students: A clinical trial study. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 32, 1-5.  Read more…

MENOPAUSE

• In a study with 63 healthy menopausal women, inhalation of neroli for 5 minutes, twice a day, for 5 days improved mood and reduced stress and menopausal symptoms.  From:  Choi, S. Y., Kang, P., Lee, H. S., & Seol, G. H. (2014). Effects of inhalation of essential oil of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara on menopausal symptoms, stress, and estrogen in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014.  Read more…

PREGNANCY

• In a randomized, controlled study with 88 women during childbirth, the group who received neroli aromatherapy helped relieve anxiety and perceived pain.  From:  Scandurra, C., et all. (2022). The Effectiveness of Neroli Essential Oil in Relieving Anxiety and Perceived Pain in Women during Labor: A Randomized Controlled Trial. In Healthcare (Vol. 10, No. 2, p. 366). MDPI.

  Women with high risk pregnancy who inhaled small amounts of neroli essential oil for 2 minutes, three times a day, for five days, had reduced anxiety.  From:  Go, G. Y., & Park, H. (2017). Effects of Aroma Inhalation Therapy on Stress, Anxiety, Depression, and the Autonomic Nervous System in High-risk Pregnant Women. Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing, 23(1), 33-41.

• In a randomized clinical trial of 63 women during labor, inhaling the aroma of neroli reduced anxiety during labor compared to the non-treated group.  From:  Namazi, M., Akbari, S. A. A., Mojab, F., Talebi, A., Majd, H. A., & Jannesari, S. (2014). Aromatherapy with citrus aurantium oil and anxiety during the first stage of labor. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 16(6).

ANXIOLYTIC / SEDATIVE

• In a randomized, controlled study with 88 women during childbirth, the group who received neroli aromatherapy helped relieve anxiety and perceived pain.  From:  Scandurra, C., et all. (2022). The Effectiveness of Neroli Essential Oil in Relieving Anxiety and Perceived Pain in Women during Labor: A Randomized Controlled Trial. In Healthcare (Vol. 10, No. 2, p. 366). MDPI.

  Can Neroli Help Reduce Anxiety Naturally?  Read more at this blog article: uhRohMuh

• Inhalation of an essential oil blended with lavender, ylang-ylang, marjoram, and neroli had a relaxing effect and reduced blood pressure in humans.  From:  Kim, I. H., Kim, C., Seong, K., Hur, M. H., Lim, H. M., & Lee, M. S. (2012). Essential oil inhalation on blood pressure and salivary cortisol levels in prehypertensive and hypertensive subjects. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012.
• In a double blind, placebo controlled, randomized study with 140 patients the aroma of neroli administered 3 times a day reduced anxiety. From: Moslemi, F., Alijaniha, F., Naseri, M., Kazemnejad, A., Charkhkar, M., & Heidari, M. R. (2019). Citrus aurantium Aroma for Anxiety in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.  Read more…
• Aromatherapy with a blend of lavender, roman chamomile, and neroli, reduced anxiety and improved sleep in a study with 56 ICU patients.  From:  Cho, M. Y., Min, E. S., Hur, M. H., & Lee, M. S. (2013). Effects of aromatherapy on the anxiety, vital signs, and sleep quality of percutaneous coronary intervention patients in intensive care units. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013.
• Women with high risk pregnancy who inhaled small amounts of neroli essential oil for 2 minutes, three times a day, for five days, had reduced anxiety.  From:  Go, G. Y., & Park, H. (2017). Effects of Aroma Inhalation Therapy on Stress, Anxiety, Depression, and the Autonomic Nervous System in High-risk Pregnant Women. Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing, 23(1), 33-41.
• In a study of 60 patients undergoing a mild operation, neroli aroma reduced preoperative anxiety.  From:  Akhlaghi, M., Shabanian, G., Rafieian-Kopaei, M., Parvin, N., Saadat, M., & Akhlaghi, M. (2011). Citrus aurantium blossom and preoperative anxiety. Revista brasileira de anestesiologia, 61(6), 707-712.  Read more…
• In a small study of 27 subjects, neroli aroma reduced colonoscopy procedural anxiety over the placebo.  From:  Hu, P. H., Peng, Y. C., Lin, Y. T., Chang, C. S., & Ou, M. C. (2010). Aromatherapy for reducing colonoscopy related procedural anxiety and physiological parameters: a randomized controlled study. Hepato-gastroenterology, 57(102), 1082.
• In a study of 63 women in labor, anxiety was reduced with aromatherapy of C. aurantium blossom oil (neroli).   From:  Namazi, M., Akbari, S. A. A., Mojab, F., Talebi, A., Majd, H. A., & Jannesari, S. (2014). Aromatherapy with citrus aurantium oil and anxiety during the first stage of labor. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 16(6).
• Neroli essential oil reduced anxiety in gerbils.  From:  Chen, Y. J., Shih, Y., Chang, T. M., Wang, M. F., Lan, S. S., & Cheng, F. C. (2008, August). Inhalation of neroli essential oil and its anxiolytic effects in animals. In Proceedings of measuring behavior (pp. 256-257).
• Neroli oil, citronellal and phenylethyl acetate showed a sedative effect in mice.   From:  Jäger, W., Buchbauer, G., Jirovetz, L., Dietrich, H., & Plank, C. (1992). Evidence of the sedative effect of neroli oil, citronellal and phenylethyl acetate on mice. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 4(4), 387-394.
• An aroma 4:2:1 blend of lavender, ylang ylang, and neroli reduced blood pressure and stress measurements in patients who were going to receive an angiography procedure.  From:  Song, E. J., & Lee, M. Y. (2018). Effects of Aromatherapy on Stress Responses, Autonomic Nervous System Activity and Blood Pressure in the Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography: A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing, 48(1), 1-11.
• In a study with 63 healthy menopausal women, inhalation of neroli for 5 minutes, twice a day, for 5 days improved mood and reduced stress and menopausal symptoms.  From:  Choi, S. Y., Kang, P., Lee, H. S., & Seol, G. H. (2014). Effects of inhalation of essential oil of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara on menopausal symptoms, stress, and estrogen in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014.

CARDIAC HEALTH

• The monoterpene, nerol, reduced the severity of arrhythmias in mammalian heart.  From:  Menezes-Filho, J. E. R. D., Souza, D. S. D., Santos-Miranda, A., Cabral, V. M., Santos, J. N. A., Cruz, J. D. S., … & Vasconcelos, C. M. L. D. (2019). Nerol Attenuates Ouabain-Induced Arrhythmias. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019.

RESPIRATORY HEALTH

• Neroli reduced cytotoxic oxidative lung dysfunction in animals.  From:  Soudani, N., Rafrafi, M., Amara, I. B., Hakim, A., Troudi, A., Zeghal, K. M., … & Zeghal, N. (2013). Oxidative stress-related lung dysfunction by chromium (VI): alleviation by Citrus aurantium L. Journal of physiology and biochemistry, 69(2), 239-253.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

• This study assessed the phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity of Citrus aurantium bloom.  From:  Karimi, E., Oskoueian, E., Hendra, R., Oskoueian, A., & Jaafar, H. Z. (2012). Phenolic compounds characterization and biological activities of Citrus aurantium bloom. Molecules, 17(2), 1203-1218.
• Polyphenols extracted from citrus blossoms showed a strong anti-inflammatory effect in vitro.  From:  Shen, C. Y., Jiang, J. G., Huang, C. L., Zhu, W., & Zheng, C. Y. (2017). Polyphenols from blossoms of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl. show significant anti-complement and anti-inflammatory effects. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 65(41), 9061-9068.
• Blossom extracts from Citrus aurantium var. amara showed a neutraceutical anti-inflammatory effect in vitro.  From:  Shen, C. Y., Jiang, J. G., Zhu, W., & Ou-Yang, Q. (2017). Anti-inflammatory Effect of Essential Oil from Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 65(39), 8586-8594.

INSOMNIA

• Aromatherapy with a blend of lavender, roman chamomile, and neroli, reduced anxiety and improved sleep in a study with 56 ICU patients.  From:  Cho, M. Y., Min, E. S., Hur, M. H., & Lee, M. S. (2013). Effects of aromatherapy on the anxiety, vital signs, and sleep quality of percutaneous coronary intervention patients in intensive care units. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013.

DEPRESSION

• In a study of 156 menopausal women, Bitter orange and lavender flower powder ingested twice a day for 8 weeks significantly reduced depression compared to the placebo.  From:  Kamalifard, M., Khalili, A. F., Namadian, M., Herizchi, S., & Ranjbar, Y. (2017). Comparison of the Effect of Lavender and Bitter Orange on Depression in Menopausal Women: A Triple-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Womens Health and Reproduction Sciences, 5(3), 224-230.

By: Kathy Sadowski

Updated: 5/12/2022