What Is Bitter Orange Extract?

Bitter orange (citrus aurantium) is a fruit-bearing tree that's native to tropical Asia and is a member of the rutaceae family. It's now widely cultivated in India, South America and parts of the United States. Bitter orange has been used by a number of many ancient cultures to treat a variety of health disorders. The oil that's extracted from the peel of the fruit is referred to as the extract.

Features

• Bitter orange extract contains flavones and compounds, such as synephrine, octopamine and N-methyltyramine, and carotenoids, which are used for medicinal purposes.

Function

• Bitter orange extract is primarily used to treat gastrointestinal problems, such as heartburn, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea and stomach or abdominal discomforts.

Effects

• Different medicinal practices have found bitter orange effective in treating headaches, insomnia, anxiety, various fungal infections (ringworm and athlete's foot) and inflammations of the skin.

Weight Loss

• Today, bitter orange extract is a major ingredient in various herbal weight-loss products, because it contains synephrine and octopamine, which are thought to boost metabolic rate and promote the body to burn calories at a quicker pace.

Warning

• The compounds synephrine and octopamine are similar to ephedra, which was banned for its dangerous side effects. Bitter orange extract is not typically recommended for children, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, those who have preexisting medical conditions (such as hypertension and tachyarrhythmia) or are on particular medications, as adverse side effects can result.