TANGERETIN

Tangeretin is a citrus flavonoids. It has the typical flavonoid structure and contains 5 methoxyl groups. This high level of methoxylation increases the hydrophobic character of tangeretin. It has a very bitter taste.

Distribution

Tangeretin can be found in the peel (albedo) of most citrus fruits. The whole orange fruit can contain up to 30 ppm tangeretin, but also orange juice contains some quantity. Commercial tangeretin is extracted from citrus peels.

Health Benefits of Tangeretin

Only recently have scientists studied the biological activity of tangeretin. They found that tangeretin is readily absorbed in tissues and that it has many beneficial properties such lowering of cholesterol, anti-tumor activity and neuroprotective action.

Cholesterol lowering
Animal studies have indicated that tangeretin has cholesterol lowering properties. One such found that rats fed with a diet containing tangeretin showed a significantly reduced (up to 40%) serum levels of LDL cholesterol.

Anti-tumor
In-vitro test have shown that tangeretin acts as an antitumor agent. It induced apoptosis in leukemia cells without being toxic to normal cells. Tangeretin stops the growth of cancer cell in the G1 phase. On the other hand, tangeretin seems to counteract the anticancer drug tamoxifen and to suppress the activity of natural killer cells.

Neuroprotection
A study with a rat model of Parkinson's disease showed that tangeretin increased the levels of dopamine and has potential neuroprotective activity.

Synonyms

5,6,7,8-tetramethoxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one
5,6,7,8,4'-pentamethoxyflavone