Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Fruit Juice Extract is a naturally derived product obtained from bitter orange.

Raw Materials and Their Functions

Citrus Aurantium Amara Fruit. The fruit of the bitter orange is rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, which can contribute to improving the appearance and health of the skin.

Industrial Production Process of Citrus Aurantium Amara Fruit Juice Extract

• Extraction of juice from the fruits of Citrus Aurantium Amara. This can be done through pressing or centrifugation to separate the juice from the pulp.
• Concentration. After extraction, the juice may be concentrated to increase the amount of bioactive compounds.
• Purification. The concentrated juice is then purified to remove impurities and solvent residues.
• Quality Control. Citrus Aurantium Amara fruit juice extract undergoes quality testing to ensure it meets the required standards in terms of purity and concentration of bioactive compounds.

Form and Color

 Citrus Aurantium Amara Fruit Juice Extract, also known as bitter orange juice extract, is typically a liquid. This compound is usually colorless or very light in color.

What it is for and where

Cosmetics

INCI Functions:

Hair conditioning agent. A significant number of ingredients with specific and targeted purposes may co-exist in hair shampoo formulations: cleansers, conditioners, thickeners, matting agents, sequestering agents, fragrances, preservatives, special additives. However, the indispensable ingredients are the cleansers and conditioners as they are necessary and sufficient for hair cleansing and manageability. The others act as commercial and non-essential auxiliaries such as: appearance, fragrance, colouring, etc. Hair conditioning agents have the task of increasing shine, manageability and volume, and reducing static electricity, especially after treatments such as colouring, ironing, waving, drying and brushing. They are, in practice, dispersants that may contain cationic surfactants, thickeners, emollients, polymers. The typology of hair conditioning agents includes: intensive conditioners, instant conditioners, thickening conditioners, drying conditioners. They can perform their task generally accompanied by other different ingredients.

Nail Conditioning agent. It is an agent that creates protection against harmful or chemical substances by strengthening the nail structure against external elements and can repair any chipping, cracking or brittle nails. It helps keep the nail's outer layer and keratin protein in good condition. It can also prevent cracking and peeling of the nail.

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

CAS   72968-50-4

EC number    277-143-2

Bitter orange (Citrus Aurantium Amara) is a fruit that is harvested from the tree which belongs to the Rutaceae family and is cultivated in temperate zones almost all over the world. Extracts and essential oils widely used by the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries are obtained from the peel, leaves, juice, flowers and seeds. It is a source of limonene, carotenoids, polyphenols, dietary fibre, soluble sugars, ascorbic acid, and pectin that exhibit antioxidant properties. Terpenes, flavonoids, carotenes and coumarins are known for their antimicrobial properties.

Citrus Aurantium Amara is known and appreciated for its bitter taste and is often used in traditional medicine and as a flavoring agent.

Chemical Composition

The essential oil extracted from the peel of Citrus Aurantium Amara is rich in limonene, a compound known for its aromatic properties. This oil is a by-product of the fruit processing industry and is valued for its potential health benefits.

Phytochemical analysis also revealed: linalool, rutin, synephrine, vitamin C.

Citrus Aurantium Amara essential oil has shown antioxidant activity, which may help counteract free radical damage in the human body; however, its antimicrobial properties, particularly against bacteria and yeasts, are relatively low compared with other natural extracts.

Research suggests that Citrus Aurantium Amara may have therapeutic potential, particularly in treating or preventing infectious diseases. Its essential oil has been studied for its effects against antibiotic-resistant microorganisms.

Traditional Medicine

In traditional Chinese medicine and other cultural practices, Citrus Aurantium Amara is used for its health-promoting properties. It's believed to aid in digestion, relieve abdominal pain, and help with other ailments.

Medical

Some studies have explored the anti-obesity effects of Citrus Aurantium Amara. Compounds like neohesperidin and naringin, found in the plant, have shown potential in weight management and obesity treatment (1).

Citrus Aurantium Amara is used in extract, essential oil, and powder form for the treatment of various diseases. One of its components, synephrine a primary proto alkaloid similar to ephedrine but producing different effects, is commonly included in dietary supplements and medicines for weight management, appetite control, sports performance, energy, and cognition (2). Synephrine exhibits cardiovascular activity but lacks the undesirable effects attributable to ephedrine. 

Extracts, oils, and powders of Citrus Aurantium Amara are used in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical preparations for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties (3).

Food and Nutraceutical

Beyond its use in traditional medicine, Citrus Aurantium Amara is gaining attention in the food and nutraceutical industries. Its rich composition of bioactive compounds makes it a valuable ingredient for developing health supplements and natural preservatives.

It is used as a fresh fruit, natural food additive, natural flavor.

Citrus Aurantium Amara studies

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Shen CY, Wan L, Wang TX, Jiang JG. Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl. inhibited lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells and Caenorhabditis elegans and prevented obesity in high-fat diet-fed mice. Pharmacol Res. 2019 Sep;147:104347. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.104347. Epub 2019 Jul 14. PMID: 31315066.

(2) Stohs SJ, Ray SD. Review of Published Bitter Orange Extract and p-Synephrine Adverse Event Clinical Study Case Reports. J Diet Suppl. 2020;17(3):355-363. doi: 10.1080/19390211.2019.1577936. 

Abstract. p-Synephrine is the primary active ingredient in bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) extract and is present in other citrus species. This review summarizes all known case reports that have been published regarding adverse events associated with multi-ingredient dietary supplements containing bitter orange extract. A common characteristic of all the case studies was the assumption that if bitter orange extract is listed on the label of the product it is the most likely cause of any adverse effect, although in no case was the presence of p-synephrine determined or a direct link demonstrated. No case study reviewed the existing published literature, and all failed to note that numerous clinical studies have not demonstrated adverse effects at commonly used doses. Most studies did not indicate the composition of the product involved, and no study analyzed the product in question. In no case was a direct correlation between the event and p-synephrine made. Although p-synephrine and ephedrine have some structural similarity, the structural differences result in markedly different pharmacokinetic, physiological, and pharmacological effects, and thus the effects produced by ephedrine cannot be extrapolated to p-synephrine.

(3) Dosoky NS, Setzer WN. Biological Activities and Safety of Citrus spp. Essential Oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Jul 5;19(7):1966. doi: 10.3390/ijms19071966. 

Abstract. Citrus fruits have been a commercially important crop for thousands of years. In addition, Citrus essential oils are valuable in the perfume, food, and beverage industries, and have also enjoyed use as aromatherapy and medicinal agents. This review summarizes the important biological activities and safety considerations of the essential oils of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), bitter orange (Citrus aurantium), neroli (Citrus aurantium), orange petitgrain (Citrus aurantium), mandarin (Citrus reticulata), lemon (Citrus limon), lime (Citrus aurantifolia), grapefruit (Citrus × paradisi), bergamot (Citrus bergamia), Yuzu (Citrus junos), and kumquat (Citrus japonica).