BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT

Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract contains an active ingredient called synephrine that is similar to ephedra.
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is a fruit-bearing tree native to Asia. 

CAS Number: 72968-50-4
EC Number: 277-143-2
Botanical Name: Citrus aurantium
Scientific Name(s): Citrus aurantium L.

SYNONYMS:
Bigarade, Bitter orange, Bitter orange flower, Bitter orange peel, Green orange, Kijitsu, Laranja-amarga, Laranja-azeda, Laranja-cavalo, Neroli flowers, Neroli oil, Seville orange, Shangzhou zhiqiao, Sour orange, Zhi qiao, Zhi shi, Citrus Aurantium Extract, Bitter Orange Extract, Citrus aurantium Extract, Seville Orange Extract, Neroli Extract, Bigarade Extract, Citrus Extract, Bitter Orange Peel Extract, Aurantium Extract, p-synephrine

Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is a fruit-bearing tree native to Asia. 
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract contains an active ingredient called synephrine that is similar to ephedra.
Many weight loss and bodybuilding products have used Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract and caffeine in its place. 

Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract contains many chemicals that affect the nervous system. 
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is considered a banned substance by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 
Don't confuse Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract with other orange species such as sweet orange and bergamot.

Thought to have originated in Southeast Asia, Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract’s now found throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, the South Sea Islands, Europe, and Western and Southern Africa.
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract, better known as Bitter Orange, is a fruit containing a high level of vitamins. 

Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is becoming popular in weight loss products because of its effects on metabolism. 
In fact, Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is usually combined with caffeine and other herbs which more directly increase the fat burning process in body.

The scientific name Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract refers to a citrus tree Bitter Orange that is native to southern Asia but has spread to many parts of the world. 
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract, commonly known as “Bitter Orange” is a plant native to Asia. 

The citrus fruit is full of vitamins, minerals, and phenolic compounds. 
Hesperidin, a flavanone glycoside present in Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is full of potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is an extract of the fruit of the bitterorange, Citrus aurantium amara.

Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract, sour orange, Seville orange, bigarade orange, or marmalade orange is in a narrow sense the citrus tree Citrus × aurantium[a] and its fruit. 
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is native to Southeast Asia and has been spread by humans to many parts of the world.
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is probably a cross between the pomelo, Citrus maxima, and the mandarin orange, Citrus reticulata.

USES and APPLICATIONS of BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT:
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is used for obesity, athletic performance, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support its use.
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract’s commonly used in complementary medicine, herbal weight loss supplements, and certain foods and toppings like marmalade.

Due to the overly sour and bitter taste of the bitter orange fruit; Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is not commonly eaten instead the active ingredient Synephrine is extracted from the peel and is used in fat burners and thermogenics.
Many varieties of Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract are used for their essential oil, and are found in perfume, used as a flavoring or as a solvent, and also for consumption. 

The Seville orange variety is used in the production of marmalade and also used to make French bigarade.
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is also employed in herbal medicine as a stimulant and appetite suppressant, due to its active ingredient, synephrine.

Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract supplements have been linked to a number of serious side effects and deaths, and consumer groups advocate that people avoid using the fruit medically.
Whether Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract affects medical conditions of heart and cardiovascular organs, by itself or in formulae with other substances, is inconclusive.

Standard reference materials are released concerning the properties in Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract by the National Institute of Standards and Technology for ground fruit, extract, and solid oral dosage form, along with those packaged together into one item.

-Use of Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract:
Pharmacological actions for Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract include antispasmodic, sedative, demulcent, digestive, tonic, and vascular stimulant; as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal agent; and for reducing cholesterol. 

Clinical data are limited. 
Most medical literature focuses on the plant's safety and efficacy in OTC weight loss supplement formulations, with studies using small sample sizes and often focusing on combination products. 
Therefore, no recommendations for any indication can be made.

HISTORY OF BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT:
The bitter orange spread from Southeast Asia via India and Iran to the Islamic world as early as 700 C.E.
The bitter orange was introduced to Spain in the 10th century by the Moors.
It was introduced to Florida and the Bahamas from Spain, and wild trees are found near small streams in generally secluded and wooded areas.

IDENTIFICATION OF BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT:
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract can be identified through its orange fruit with a distinctly bitter or sour taste. 
The tree has alternate simple leaves and thorns on its petiole.

MARKET APPLICATIONS OF BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT:
Sports & Lifestyle Nutrition, Food, Beverage

HEALTH BENEFITS OF BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT:
Immunity Support, Pre, Intra, Post Workout, Digestive Support, Vegan, Weight Management

BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) AND BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT'S EXTRACTS:
The bitter orange plant thrives in subtropical regions but can withstand adverse environmental conditions like frost for short periods.
Oval or oblong in shape, the fruit is red-orange when ripe and has a distinctively thick, dimpled skin. 
True to its name, it’s very bitter.

There are 23 cultivars of the fruit, the most prominent of which is Bergamot. 
You can expect some varieties to be more bitter than others.

Bitter orange contains several potent plant compounds that are sometimes extracted from the dried peel to make dietary supplements. 
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract, p-synephrine, is sold in capsule form as the herbal weight loss supplements Advantra Z and Kinetiq.
Essential oils and powdered and liquid supplement forms are available as well.

Summary
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is a citrus fruit with dimpled skin and potent plant compounds that are extracted and used in a variety of supplements.

*Compounds and nutrients
The plant compounds in bitter orange, which are called protoalkaloids, have been used for over 20 years in supplements for weight loss, athletic performance, skin care, appetite control, and brain health, as well as perfumery.

*Synephrine (p-synephrine)
P-synephrine, the main extract from bitter orange, Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract, has a similar structure to ephedrine, the main component of the herbal weight loss supplement ephedra.

This supplement was banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract raised blood pressure, increased heart rate, and caused heart attacks and stroke among some consumers.

In addition, Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is structurally similar to your flight-or-fight hormones, epinephrine and norepinephrine, which also increase your heart rate.
As such, the safety of Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract has been called into question.

However, several studies have shown that Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract and the plant’s natural uses neither harm your heart and nervous system nor excite nervous system activity, as some stimulants do.

Furthermore, at least one study has claimed that Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract shouldn’t be classified as a stimulant.
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is also found in other citrus fruits and their juices, such as mandarins and clementines.

*Limonene
Like other citrus fruits, Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract provides limonene — a compound shown to have anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties.
Population studies suggest that limonene may prevent certain cancers, namely colon cancer. However, more rigorous human research is needed.

An ongoing study is also exploring the use of limonene as a treatment for COVID-19. 
However, the results are not yet known. 

BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT:
Another protoalkaloid found in Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is p-octopamine. 
However, little to no p-octopamine exists in Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract. 

Moreover, Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract’s thought to be metabolized very rapidly in your liver when consumed from the whole fruit.
Likewise, Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract doesn’t appear to exert any beneficial or adverse effects on your body.

Other compounds
The leaves of the Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract are rich in vitamin C, which acts as an antioxidant. 
What’s more, Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract's peel has a high content of flavonoids, which are potent antioxidants with high medicinal value.

Antioxidants are substances that may protect your body from disease by preventing cell damage. 
They work by deactivating free radicals, which are unstable compounds that damage your cells, increasing inflammation and your disease risk.

Summary
Protoalkaloids are plant compounds found in Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract that have anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. 
They have been shown to be safe for consumption.

DOES BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT AID WEIGHT LOSS?
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract and other citrus varieties show potential for weight loss, but there’s limited evidence on their effectiveness.

Many weight loss supplements use Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract in combination with other ingredients. 
However, scientific studies have not thoroughly examined the composition of these supplements to determine which ingredient, if any, supports weight loss.

Notably, Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract has been shown to increase fat breakdown, raise energy expenditure, and mildly suppress appetite, all of which may contribute to reduced weight.

Yet, these effects occur at high doses that are discouraged due to the lack of safety information.
Thus, more studies on Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract’s weight loss properties are needed.

Summary
Although Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract are often included in weight loss supplements, there’s limited evidence to support their effectiveness.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT:
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat indigestion, diarrhea, dysentery, and constipation. 
In other regions, the fruit is used to treat anxiety and epilepsy.

Nonetheless, there’s limited evidence to support these uses.
There’s also insufficient evidence to support any uses for symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

All the same, given the high vitamin C content of bitter orange, Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract’s presumed that this fruit may improve skin health. 
Vitamin C’s role in wound healing and collagen formation is well established.

Another study noted that the Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract may improve athletic performance though by increasing total reps and volume load, or your ability to train harder.

Summary
There’s insufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract and its extracts for its numerous medicinal uses.

MAIN FUNCTIONS OF BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT:
The main function of Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is increasing metabolic rate and it is an effective fat burning ingredient. 
Studies have shown that when Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract has been taken before a workout the body will burn more fat than carbohydrates.
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is a legal substance and is often confused with the now-banned substance Ephedrine because of how similar the effects are. 

Ephedrine strongly stimulates the alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenoreceptors leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure, however, Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is less potent and only weakly stimulates these receptors.
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract is a stimulant and is often combined with caffeine to elevate the fat-burning effects and may also enhance cognitive function.

WHAT IS BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM), AND DOES BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT AID WEIGHT LOSS?
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract, also known as sour orange and Seville orange, is a citrus fruit with a multitude of uses. 
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract’s commonly used in complementary medicine, herbal weight loss supplements, and certain foods and toppings like marmalade.

NAMES OF BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT:
In some new systems, the species Citrus × aurantium includes not only the Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract proper (Citrus × aurantium), but also all other crosses between the pomelo (Citrus maxima) and the wild mandarin (Citrus reticulata sensu stricto, other name: Citrus daoxianensis), i.e. mainly:
*the sweet orange (Citrus × aurantium Sweet Orange Group, other names: Citrus × aurantium var. sinensis, Citrus sinensis)
*the grapefruit (Citrus × aurantium Grapefruit Group, other names: Citrus × aurantium var. paradisi, Citrus paradisi)
*and all cultivated mandarins (Citrus × aurantium Mandarin Group and Tangerine Group and Satsuma Group etc., other names: Citrus × aurantium var. tangerina and var. deliciosa and var. nobilis and var. unshiu etc., Citrus × aurantium f. deliciosa, Citrus reticulata sensu lato [pro parte majore, i.e. excluding the wild mandarins]).
The following text of this article only deals with the bitter orange proper.

PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL PROPERTIES of BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT:
Assay (HPLC): Synephrine > 6%
Part Used: fruit
Solvents Used: Water & Ethanol
Yellow brown fine powder
CAS Number: 72968-50-4
EC Number: 277-143-2
Botanical Name: Citrus aurantium
Part Used: Fruit, Peel
Appearance: Light yellow to orange powder
Solubility: Soluble in water, alcohol, and glycerin

pH: 4.5–6.5
Density: 0.95–1.05 g/cm³
Active Compounds: Synephrine, flavonoids, and pectins
Melting Point: Not applicable (extracts generally don’t have a specific melting point)
Boiling Point: Not applicable (extracts generally don’t have a specific boiling point)
Vapor Pressure: Not applicable
Flash Point: Not applicable
Solubility in Water: Good
Vegan: Yes

FIRST AID MEASURES of BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT:
-Description of first-aid measures
*General advice:
Show this material safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.
*If inhaled:
After inhalation: 
Fresh air.
*In case of skin contact: 
Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. 
Rinse skin with
water/ shower.
*In case of eye contact:
After eye contact: 
Rinse out with plenty of water. 
Call in ophthalmologist. 
Remove contact lenses.
*If swallowed:
After swallowing: 
Immediately make victim drink water (two glasses at most). 
Consult a physician.
-Indication of any immediate medical attention and special treatment needed.
No data available

ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES of BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT:
-Environmental precautions:
Do not let product enter drains.
-Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Cover drains. 
Collect, bind, and pump off spills. 
Observe possible material restrictions. 
Take up dry. 
Dispose of properly. 
Clean up affected area.

FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES of BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT:
-Extinguishing media:
*Suitable extinguishing media:
Carbon dioxide (CO2) 
Foam 
Dry powder
*Unsuitable extinguishing media:
For this substance/mixture no limitations of extinguishing agents are given.
-Further information:
Prevent fire extinguishing water from contaminating surface water or the ground water system.

EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION of BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT:
-Control parameters:
--Ingredients with workplace control parameters:
-Exposure controls:
--Personal protective equipment:
*Eye/face protection:
Use equipment for eye protection. 
Safety glasses
*Body Protection:
protective clothing
*Respiratory protection:
Recommended Filter type: Filter A 
-Control of environmental exposure:
Do not let product enter drains.

HANDLING and STORAGE of BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT:
-Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
*Storage conditions:
Tightly closed. 
Dry.

STABILITY and REACTIVITY of BITTER ORANGE (CITRUS AURANTIUM) EXTRACT:
-Chemical stability:
The product is chemically stable under standard ambient conditions (room temperature) .
-Possibility of hazardous reactions:
No data available