Naringenin is a flavonoid that is found naturally in many different types of citrus fruits. A flavonoid, by definition, is a substance that is found in many plants, fruits and vegetable that offers antioxidant benefits when consumed by humans. Antioxidants offer many health benefits due to the fact that they rid the body of free radicals that cause cell damage and promote disease. The citrus fruits that contain naringenin offer their own unique set of health benefits due to the presence of this flavonoid.
Grapefruit
Grapefruits are among the citrus fruits with the highest concentration of naringenin, notes the USDA. The naringenin concentration of grapefruit is over 50 mg per 100 grams. A study performed by Yaakov Nahmias and published in January 2008 in "Hepatology" revealed that naringenin from grapefruit offered prevention against the hepatitis C virus. The results of the study indicated that naringenin from grapefruit inhibited cells infected with the hepatitis C virus from secreting the virus and spreading the virus. Throughout the course of the study, naringenin inhibited secretion in 80 percent of infected cells.
Tangelos
Tangelos are another citrus fruit with an extremely high concentration of naringenin. The naringenin concentration of tangelos is also over 50 mg per 100 grams. The presence of naringenin has also been proven effective in reducing liver damage. A study published in November 2010 in "Fundamental and Clinical Pharmacology" revealed the presence of naringenin effectively reduced liver damage caused by alcohol induced liver injury.
Lemons
Lemons also contain a significant concentration of naringenin. The naringenin concentration of lemons is 10 to 50 mg per 100 grams. Naringenin from lemons has been scientifically shown to protect damage to human skin from ultraviolet radiation. A study published in the March/April 2008 issue of "Photochemistry and Photobiology" revealed the presence of naringenin effectively protected against skin cancer, premature aging and overall skin cell death as a result of exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
References
- United States Department of Agriculture: USDA's Flavonoid Database: Flavonoids in Fruit
- American Cancer Society: Flavonoid
- PubMed.gov: The Citrus Fruit Flavonoid Naringenin Suppresses Hepatic Glucose Production From Fao Hepatoma Cells
- "Hepatology": Apolipoprotein B--Dependent Hepatitis C Virus Secretion is Inhibited by the Grapefruit Flavonoid Naringenin
- "Fundamental and Clinical Pharmacology" November 24,2010 : Naringenin Modulates Circulatory Lipid Peroxidation, Anti-Oxidant Status and Hepatic Alcohol Metabolizing Enzymes in Rats With Ethanol Induced Liver Injury
- PubMed.gov: Naringenin Protects HaCaT Human Keratinocytes Against UVB-induced Apoptosis and Enhances the Removal of Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers from the Genome
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