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
- 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. Petitgrain showed remarkable radical-scavanging action and was a potent antioxidant related to its d-limonene constituent. It was also antibacterial and antifungal. From: Dosoky, N., & Setzer, W. (2018). Biological activities and safety of Citrus spp. essential oils. International journal of molecular sciences, 19(7), 1966.
ANTIMICROBIAL / ANTIFUNGAL / ANTIBACTERIAL
- Antifungal and antibacterial actions of petitgrain essential oil were tested in vitro. From: Gniewosz, M., Kraśniewska, K., Kosakowska, O., Pobiega, K., & Wolska, I. (2017). Chemical compounds and antimicrobial activity of petitgrain (Citrus aurantium L. var. amara) essential oil. Herba Polonica, 63(4), 18-25.
- Petitgrain essential oil and its d-limonene constituent showed antibacterial activity against a variety of tested organisms. From: Okla, M. K., Alamri, S. A., Salem, M. Z., Ali, H. M., Behiry, S. I., Nasser, R. A., … & Soufan, W. (2019). Yield, Phytochemical Constituents, and Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oils from the Leaves/Twigs, Branches, Branch Wood, and Branch Bark of Sour Orange (Citrus aurantium L.). Processes, 7(6), 363.
- 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.
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.
- A variety of petitgrain types showed significant antioxidant activity in vitro. From: Bonesi, M., Loizzo, M. R., Leporini, M., Tenuta, M. C., Passalacqua, N. G., & Tundis, R. (2018). Comparative evaluation of petitgrain oils from six Citrus species alone and in combination as potential functional anti-radicals and antioxidant agents. Plant Biosystems-An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 152(5), 986-993.
IMPROVED WORK PERFORMANCE
- Based on a study of 42 administrative university workers, aromatherapy of petitgrain essential oil could improve work performance in office workers. From: Huang, L., & Capdevila, L. (2017). Aromatherapy improves work performance through balancing the autonomic nervous system. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 23(3), 214-221.
INSOMNIA
- Extracts and essential oils from C. aurantium increased sleep time, had an anxiolytic effect, and were anticonvulsant in mice. From: Carvalho-Freitas, M. I. R., & Costa, M. (2002). Anxiolytic and sedative effects of extracts and essential oil from Citrus aurantium L. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 25(12), 1629-1633.
ANXIOLYTIC
- Extracts and essential oils from C. aurantium increased sleep time, had an anxiolytic effect, and were anticonvulsant in mice. From: Carvalho-Freitas, M. I. R., & Costa, M. (2002). Anxiolytic and sedative effects of extracts and essential oil from Citrus aurantium L. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 25(12), 1629-1633.
ANTI-CONVULSIVE
- Extracts and essential oils from C. aurantium increased sleep time, had an anxiolytic effect, and were anticonvulsant in mice. From: Carvalho-Freitas, M. I. R., & Costa, M. (2002). Anxiolytic and sedative effects of extracts and essential oil from Citrus aurantium L. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 25(12), 1629-1633.
IMMUNITY
- Polysaccharides from Citrus aurantium var. amara showed immune enhancing action in vitro. From: Shen, C. Y., Yang, L., Jiang, J. G., Zheng, C. Y., & Zhu, W. (2017). Immune enhancement effects and extraction optimization of polysaccharides from Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl. Food & function, 8(2), 796-807.
ANTI-CANCER
- The study demonstrated potential for C. reticulate and P. graveolens in cancer treatments. From: Fayed, S. A. (2009). Antioxidant and anticancer activities of Citrus reticulate (Petitgrain Mandarin) and Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium) essential oils. Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, 5(5), 740-747.
SKIN / WOUND HEALING
- Nine essential oils were studied and showed potential to heal human skin cells in vitro. They included: Citrus bergamia (bergamot), Coriandrum sativum (cilantro), Pelargonium graveolens (geranium), Helichrysum italicum (helichrysum), Pogostemon cablin (patchouli), Citrus aurantium (petitgrain), Santalum album (sandalwood), Nardostachys jatamansi (spikenard), and Cananga odorata (ylang ylang). From: Han, X., Beaumont, C., & Stevens, N. (2017). Chemical composition analysis and in vitro biological activities of ten essential oils in human skin cells. Biochimie Open, 5, 1-7.
By: Kathy Sadowski, MS in Aromatherapy, RA (ARC), NAHA and AIA Professional Member, LMT
Last Updated: 6/18/19
