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Serious neurological disorders were associated with cadmium toxicity. Hence, this research aimed to investigate the potential neuroprotective impacts of the ethanolic extracts of Citrus aurantium unripe fruits and leaves (CAF and CAL, respectively) at doses 100 and 200 mg/kg against cadmium chloride-provoked brain dysfunction in rats for 30 consecutive days. HPLC for natural pigment content revealed that CAF implied higher contents of Chlorophyll B, while the CAL has a high yield of chlorophyll A and total carotenoid. Fifty-seven chromatographic peaks were identified by UPLC/MS/MS; 49 and 29 were recognized from CAF or CAL, respectively. Four compounds were isolated from CAF: 3’,4’,7 –trihydroxyflavone, isorhainetin, vitexin, and apigenin. In vitro studies outlined the antioxidant capacity of studied extracts where CAF showed better scavenging radical DPPH activity. Results clarified that both extracts with a superior function of CAF at the high adopted dose significantly ameliorated CdCl2-induced neuro-oxidative stress and neuro-inflammatory response via restoring antioxidant status and hindering nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) stimulation. Moreover, it up-regulated the levels of phospho-protein kinase B (p-Akt), phospho- cAMP-response element binding protein (p-CREB), and brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) levels, and elicited a marked decrease in the content of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β), besides amending Caspase-3 and hyperphosphorylation of tau protein in brain tissues. Moreover, a significant improvement in the rats’ behavioral tasks of the CAL and CAF-treated groups has been recorded, as indicated by marked preservation in locomotion, exploratory, and memory functions of the experimental rats. In conclusion, the reported neuroprotective impacts of C. aurantium extracts may be through modulating p-AKT/p-CREB/BDNF and / or p-Akt/ GSK3β/NF-κB signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of bitter orange peel powder (BOPP) as a nutritional strategy for fish was investigated in Nile tilapia. A total of 120 juveniles with an average initial weight of 9.8 ± 0.7 g were divided into four groups, replicated three times, resulting in 12 experimental units (60 L each) at a stocking density of 1.63 g of fish per liter. Productive parameters, whole-body composition, blood biochemistry, erythroid morphometry, intestinal histology, and heat tolerance were assessed in the juveniles subjected to one of the following treatments: non-supplemented basal diet (control group); basal diet with BOPP at 10 g/kg (BOPP10 group); basal diet with BOPP at 20 g/kg (BOPP20 group); and basal diet with BOPP at 40 g/kg (BOPP40 group). The BOPP additive had a positive influence on Nile tilapia growth, as final weight and weight gain were greater in all BOPP-treated fish, despite the reduction in crude protein in BOPP10 and BOPP20 groups. Fish receiving BOPP40 had an increase in total lipids and showed the highest levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol. Villi development was greater in the tilapia given BOPP10. It may be concluded that BOPP presented the most promising results for Nile tilapia juveniles when used at 10 g/kg diet. Regarding the erythroid morphometry, there was a general increase in nuclear and cytoplasmic areas in BOPP-fed tilapia; this seems to be the first report on the direct impact of the inclusion of functional additives in fish diet upon such parameters. As concerns the thermal tolerance evaluated at the end of the feeding trial, no differences were registered among the experimental groups. Thus, BOPP represents a feasible alternative ingredient to be explored in fish nutrition, since orange peel is a natural low-cost source of essential nutrients and valuable bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Complementary therapies, such as aromatherapy, were used to manage acute and chronic symptoms of diseases. Anxiety symptoms and deviations in vital signs are frequently manifest in patients admitted to the cardiac care unit (CCU). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of citrus aurantium and chamomile aromas on anxiety levels and vital signs of patients hospitalized in CCU. Methods: In this clinical research trial (CRT), a total of 76 hospitalized patients in the CCU were randomly assigned to two groups. The intervention group received aromatherapy using a blend of chamomile and citrus aurantium essences at a ratio of 2:0.5 on an eye pad. They inhaled the aromas from a distance of 10 cm for three nights. Vital signs were recorded every 6 h. Spielberger's anxiety questionnaire was administered before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using independent t‐tests, paired t‐tests, Chi‐square tests, Fisher's exact tests, and the generalized estimating equation (GEE) approach. Results: Before the aromatherapy, the mean (SD) scores of state and trait anxiety in the intervention group were 57.9 (11.4) and 50 (12.5) respectively, after the intervention, these scores decreased to 35.3 (8.4) and 38.5 (8.2), and the paired t‐test revealed a significant difference between them (p < 0.001). Before the intervention there was no significant difference in the mean scores of state and trait anxiety between the two groups, (p > 0.05), however following the intervention, a significant difference was observed (p < 0.001). Additionally, the intervention resulted in the recovery of patients' heart rate. Conclusions: The results showed, application of citrus aurantium and chamomile aromas significantly lower anxiety levels and enhance the hemodynamic status of patients in the CCU. It may be suggested as a beneficial nursing intervention for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bitter orange is a citrus fruit rich in bioactive compounds, but its waste is currently underutilized. One potential solution is to encapsulate these bioactive compounds. This research aims to synthesize gelatin nanoparticles loaded with an ethanolic extract of bitter orange peel and to evaluate their in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Coaxial electrospray was used to encapsulate the ethanolic extract of bitter orange with bovine gelatin as wall material, considering a voltage of 15 kV, a wall solution flow rate of 0.1 mL/h, and a core solution flow rate of 0.08 mL/h. Characterization of the nanoparticles was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Antioxidant activity was evaluated by the total phenolic content, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity by the DPPH•, ABTS•+, and FRAP assays. Antibacterial activity was assessed by the well diffusion technique on Mueller–Hinton agar against Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria. SEM images confirmed that the nanoparticles were spherical in shape, while FT-IR analysis indicated that the incorporation of the extract did not alter the amide bonds of the gelatin protein. The nanoparticles containing the extract exhibited higher antioxidant activity and heightened inhibition against E. coli O157:H7, indicating their potential food applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study presents a simple, sustainable, eco-friendly approach for synthesizing copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles using Citrus aurantium peel extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. The synthesized CuO and CuO-OP were characterized using various techniques, including surface area measurement (SBET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). DRS analysis determines band gap energy (Eg) of 1.7 eV for CuO and 1.6 eV for CuO-OP. FTIR confirmed the presence of Cu–O bond groups. The XRD and HRTEM results revealed monoclinic and spherical nanostructures, with average particle sizes ranging from 53.25 to 68.02 nm, as determined via Scherer’s equation. EDX analysis indicated incorporation of carbon (1.6%) and nitrogen (0.3%) from the peel extract. The synthesized CuO and CuO-OP NPs exhibited excellent photocatalytic efficiencies for methylene blue dye under UV irradiation, reaching 95.34 and 97.5%, respectively, under optimal conditions; the initial dye concentration was 100 mg/L, the pH was 10, the catalyst dosage was 1 g/L, and the contact time was 120 min. Isothermal studies showed that the adsorption of MB onto the nanoparticles followed the Freundlich isotherm model (R2 = 0.97 and 0.96). Kinetic studies indicated that the degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, with rate constants (K1) of 0.0255 min−1 for CuO and 0.033 min−1 for CuO-OP. The sorption capacities were calculated as 98.19 mg/g for CuO and 123.1 mg/g for CuO-OP. The energy values obtained from the Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm were 707.11 and 912.87 KJ mol−1, suggesting that chemisorption was the dominant mechanism.

Citrus fruits are widely consumed worldwide; however, one of their primary uses is juice production, resulting in over 40 million tons of agro-industrial waste. Citrus peel is the main agro-industrial by-product in citrus production. In recent years, secondary metabolites of interest, mainly polyphenols such as hesperidin, have been identified in citrus peels. Currently, green alternatives like natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) based on choline chloride and glucose (Glu), combined with ultrasound-assisted extraction, are studied to obtain polyphenol-rich extracts with potential health applications. This study aims to evaluate the effect of: (1) molar ratios (MR) of 1:0.5, 1:1 or 1:2 mol/mol of choline chloride (ChCl):glucose (Glu); (2) the percentage of added water (WA: 50, 60 or 70%) to NADES; and (3) different citrus peels of Citrus aurantium (bitter orange), Citrus sinensis (sweet orange), and Citrus limon (lemon) used for extraction, on polyphenol profiles, total polyphenol content (TPC), and antioxidant capacity (Ax) of the extracts. The extracts were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and evaluated using the Folin–Ciocalteu method for TPC and DPPH assay for quantifying AC. A factorial experimental design 33 was implemented. The extract obtained with an MR of 1:1 (ChCl:Glu) from Citrus aurantium peel exhibited the highest concentration of hesperidin (2003.37 ± 10.91 mg/100 g dry mass), whereas an MR of 1:2 (ChCl:Glu) exhibited the highest concentration of neohesperidin (1045.94 ± 1.27 mg/100 g dry mass), both using 60% WA. This extract also showed the highest antioxidant capacity, achieving 100% inhibition. On the other hand, the highest concentration of total phenolic content (TPC) (96.23 ± 0.83 mg GAE/100 g dry mass) was obtained using C. aurantium peel with an MR of 1:0.5 (ChCl:Glu) and 60% WA. The extracts also presented high concentrations of rutin and catechin. These findings highlight the potential of revalorizing citrus peels, particularly Citrus aurantium, and their extracts obtained with NADES for possible health applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus species are well-known for their applications in medicine and cosmetics. Citrus aurantium is a promising natural source of biologically active constituents such as phenolics and flavonoids. Water, ethanol, and ethyl acetate extracts, prepared from the fruit peels of C. aurantium, were phytochemically and biologically evaluated. Total phenol content (TPC) was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and total flavonoid content (TFC) by the aluminum chloride (AlCl3) colorimetric method. The micro-titer plate dilution method was applied to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and cell viability was assessed utilizing MTT. Ethyl acetate extract exerted the highest TPC and TFC (110.8 mg and 52.1 mg, respectively). Tested cancer cell lines and microorganisms showed high sensitivity to the ethyl acetate extract. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) of this extract revealed the presence of naringin, eriodictyol-7-neohesperidoside and hesperidin as the major constituents. Ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed also potent antioxidant capacity against DPPH radicals with respective IC50 values of 102.21 µg/mL and 110.89 µg/mL. The findings demonstrated that ethyl acetate extract of the peels of C. aurantium, grown in Jordan, possesses substantial antioxidant, anticancer and antimicrobial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salvia sclarea L. and Citrus aurantium L. are used ethnobotanically for wound treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate phytochemical composition of Salvia sclarea L. and Citrus aurantium L. leaf essential oils and wound healing activities of their combinations. The phytochemical analysis was performed gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectroscopy (MS). Major components of S. sclarea leaf essential oil was confirmed both by GC-FID and GC/MS as 67% linalyl acetate, 20.2% linalool, 2.6%a-terpineole, respectively. The major components of C. aurantium leaf essential oil was also confirmed as 55% linalyl acetate, 23.4% linalool, 5.4%a-terpineole, respectively. Combinations of essential oils were loaded into Carbopol gel formulations. Wound healing activity of essential oil and combinations was investigated using in vitro scratch assay. As a result of the study, it was determined that the most effective wound healing concentration for Salvia sclarea essential oil was 50 µg/mL. The most effective concentration of Citrus aurantifolia essential oil was determined as 12.5 µg/mL. The aim of the study is to investigate the wound healing activities of the tested essential oils individually and in combination. The fact that no activity is observed in empty formulations is evidence that the activity of the loaded formulations does not come from empty formulations. It was observed that the loaded formulations showed better effects than the control Madecassol. Studies need to be confirmed by working under in vivo conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] To study the photosynthetic characteristics of Citrus aurantium in summer. [Method] By using Li-6400 portable photosynthesis system, the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of leaves in different positions, diurnal variation of photosynthesis, light response curve and CO2 response curve of Citrus aurantium were measured. [Result] There were certain differences in Pn of leaves in different directions and parts. The diurnal variation of Pn of Citrus aurantium in summer showed a double-peak curve with a “nap” phenomenon, and the photosynthetic peaks appeared at 10:00 and 14:30, respectively. The diurnal variation of stomatal conductance was similar to that of Pn. From the light response curve, it could be seen that Citrus aurantium had a high saturation point and a light intensity of 0-2 000 μmol/ (m²·s), the Pn continued to increase, reaching a maximum of 13.44 μmol/ (m²·s), with a light compensation point of 28.33 μmol/ (m²·s), the apparent quantum efficiency was 0.036. From CO2 response curve, the CO2 saturation point and CO2 compensation point were about 1 500 μmol/mol and 60.65 μmol/mol, respectively, and the carboxylation efficiency was 0.079. The results of correlation and regression analysis showed that in summer Pn of Citrus aurantium was closely associated with physiological and ecological factors, such as stomatal conductance, relative humidity, intercelluar CO2 concentration, transpiration rate, vapor pressure deficienc. [Conclusion] Citrus aurantium was a heliophile C3 plant and it had a strong ability to adapt and utilize low light and strong assimilation ability to CO2. And under the high temperature and low air relative humidity in summer, the photosynthesis of Citrus aurantium was affected by various physiological and ecological factors. In this period, the photosynthetic active radiation was not the key factor affecting Pn, and the air relative humidity was significantly positively correlated with Pn. Therefore, environmental selection or cultivation measures to increase the air relative humidity could mitigate the midday depression of photosynthesis in summer and improved the photosynthetic efficiency of Citrus aurantium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) is a fruiting shrub native to tropical and subtropical countries around the world and cultivated in many regions due to its nutraceutical value. The current study investigated the metabolic profiling and enzyme inhibitory activities of volatile constituents derived from the C. aurantium peel cultivated in Egypt by three different extraction methods. Methods The volatile chemical constituents of the peel of C. aurantium were isolated using three methods; steam distillation (SD), hydrodistillation (HD), and microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD), and then were investigated by GC-MS. The antioxidant potential was evaluated by different assays such as DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC, and phosphomolybdenum and metal chelating potential. Moreover, the effect of enzyme inhibition of the three essential oils was tested using BChE, AChE, tyrosinase, glucosidase, as well as amylase assays. Results A total of six compounds were detected by GC/MS analysis. The major constituent obtained by all three extraction methods was limonene (98.86% by SD, 98.68% by HD, and 99.23% by MAHD). Differences in the composition of the compounds of the three oils were observed. The hydrodistillation technique has yielded the highest number of compounds, notably two oxygenated monoterpenes: linalool (0.12%) and α-terpineol acetate (0.1%). Conclusion In our study differences in the extraction methods of C. aurantium peel oils resulted in differences in the oils’ chemical composition. Citrus essential oils and their components showed potential antioxidant, anticholinesterase, antimelanogenesis, and antidiabetic activities. The presence of linalool and α-terpineol acetate may explain the superior activity observed for the oil isolated by HD in both radical scavenging and AChE inhibition assays, as well as in the enzyme inhibition assays.

Citrus aurantium L. hydrosol extracted by steam distillation from its flowers is a highly consumed herbal product in the Iranian traditional market, widely used as a food flavor and therapeutic food and drinks. This study investigated ten commercial hydrosol samples of C. aurantium flowers produced by conventional extraction methods and industrial processes, as well as a laboratory-prepared control sample. A liquid-liquid extraction method and sonication were used to extract essential oils from commercial hydrosols. Samples were then subjected to GC/MS analysis. ATR-IR spectroscopy was another efficient tool used to analyze hydrosol samples. All HPTLC chromatograms exhibited a close resemblance between samples and controls. The cluster analysis was used to compare the results of GC/MS and IR screening. In the HCA dendrograms derived from the GC/MS data, most of the oil sample profiles were found to be very similar to those of the control. Linalool was the most abundant compound in eight samples and the control. α-Terpineol in all hydrosol samples and geraniol in five samples and control were other marker compounds. Ethyl disulfide, dillapiol, and hotrienol were detected in two samples that have not been reported in previous studies and might have resulted from the addition of other herbal hydrosols. Microbial content and pH values were within permissible limits in all samples, making them safe for oral consumption.

Background: Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) is a fruiting shrub native to tropical and subtropical countries around the world and cultivated in many regions due to its nutraceutical value. The current study investigated the metabolic profiling and enzyme inhibitory activities of volatile constituents derived from the C. aurantium peel cultivated in Egypt by three different extraction methods. Methods: The volatile chemical constituents of the peel of C. aurantium were isolated using three methods; steam distillation (SD), hydrodistillation (HD), and microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD), and then were investigated by GC-MS. The antioxidant potential was evaluated by different assays such as DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC, and phosphomolybdenum and metal chelating potential. Moreover, the effect of enzyme inhibition of the three essential oils was tested using BChE, AChE, tyrosinase, glucosidase, as well as amylase assays. Results: A total of six compounds were detected by GC/MS analysis. The major constituent obtained by all three extraction methods was limonene (98.86% by SD, 98.68% by HD, and 99.23% by MAHD). Differences in the composition of the compounds of the three oils were observed. The hydrodistillation technique has yielded the highest number of compounds, notably two oxygenated monoterpenes: linalool (0.12%) and α-terpineol acetate (0.1%). Conclusion: In our study differences in the extraction methods of C. aurantium peel oils resulted in differences in the oils' chemical composition. Citrus essential oils and their components showed potential antioxidant, anticholinesterase, antimelanogenesis, and antidiabetic activities. The presence of linalool and α-terpineol acetate may explain the superior activity observed for the oil isolated by HD in both radical scavenging and AChE inhibition assays, as well as in the enzyme inhibition assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus aurantium L. hydrosol extracted by steam distillation from its flowers is a highly consumed herbal product in the Iranian traditional market, widely used as a food flavour and therapeutic food and drinks. This study investigated ten commercial hydrosol samples of C. aurantium flowers produced by conventional industrial processes, as well as a laboratory-prepared control sample. A liquid-liquid extraction method and sonication were used to extract essential oils from commercial hydrosols. Samples were then subjected to GC/MS analysis. ATR-IR spectroscopy was another efficient tool used to analyze hydrosol samples. All HPTLC chromatograms exhibited a close resemblance between samples and controls. The cluster analysis was used to compare the results of GC/MS and IR screening. In the HCA dendrograms derived from the GC/MS data, most of the oil sample profiles were found to be very similar to those of the control. Linalool was the most abundant compound in eight samples and the control. α-Terpineol in all hydrosol samples and geraniol in control and five other samples were the marker compounds. Ethyl disul- fide, dillapiol, and hotrienol were detected in two samples that have not been reported in previous studies and might have resulted from the addition of other herbal hydrosols. Microbial content and pH values were within permissible limits in all samples, making them safe for oral consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Citrus fruit essential oil is considered one of the widely studied essential oils while its leaves attract less attention although being rich in nearly the same composition as the peel and flowers. The leaves of bitter orange or sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) were extracted using three different techniques namely; hydrodistillation (HD), steam distillation (SD), and microwave-assisted distillation (MV) to compare their chemical composition. The three essential oil samples were analyzed through GC/FID and GC/MS analyses. The samples were tested in vitro using different antioxidant techniques (DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, FRAP, PBD, and MCA), neuroprotective enzyme inhibitory activities (acetylcholine and butyl choline enzymes), and antidiabetic activities (α-amylase and α-glucosidase). The results showed that thirty-five volatile ingredients were detected and quantified. Monoterpenes represented the most abundant class in the three essential oils followed by sesquiterpenes. C. aurantium essential oil carried potential antioxidant activity where SD exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, with values arranged in the following order: FRAP (200.43 mg TE/g), CUPRAC (138.69 mg TE/g), ABTS (129.49 mg TE/g), and DPPH (51.67 mg TE/g). SD essential oil also presented the most potent α-amylase (0.32) inhibition while the MV essential oil showed the highest α-glucosidase inhibition (2.73 mmol ACAE/g), followed by HD (2.53 mmol ACAE/g), and SD (2.46 mmol ACAE/g). The SD essential oil exhibited the highest BChE and AChE inhibitory activities (3.73 and 2.06 mg GALAE/g), respectively). Thus, bitter orange essential oil can act as a potential source of potent antioxidant, antidiabetic, and neuroprotective activities for future drug leads.

Bitter orange is a citrus fruit rich in bioactive compounds, but its waste is currently underutilized. One potential solution is to encapsulate these bioactive compounds. This research aims to synthesize gelatin nanoparticles loaded with an ethanolic extract of bitter orange peel and to evaluate their in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Coaxial electrospray was used to encapsulate the ethanolic extract of bitter orange with bovine gelatin as wall material, considering a voltage of 15 kV, a wall solution flow rate of 0.1 mL/h, and a core solution flow rate of 0.08 mL/h. Characterization of the nanoparticles was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Antioxidant activity was evaluated by the total phenolic content, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity by the DPPH•, ABTS•+, and FRAP assays. Antibacterial activity was assessed by the well diffusion technique on Mueller–Hinton agar against Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria. SEM images confirmed that the nanoparticles were spherical in shape, while FT-IR analysis indicated that the incorporation of the extract did not alter the amide bonds of the gelatin protein. The nanoparticles containing the extract exhibited higher antioxidant activity and heightened inhibition against E. coli O157:H7, indicating their potential food applications.

Citrus is one of the most important fruits whose growth performance and production is significantly affected by environmental stresses. Abiotic stresses, such as salinity and alkaline pH, strikingly limit citrus growth and development. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of four NaCl concentrations (0, 30, 60, 90 mM) and two pH levels (6.5 and 8.2) on some of morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters of two citrus rootstocks (Sour orange and Bakraei rootstocks). The experiment was conducted as factorial based on a completely randomized design with four replications, at the Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran. The results showed that the value of shoot dry weight, fresh and dry weight of roots, and transpiration were significantly decreased in both Bakraei and Sour orange rootstocks when receiving irrigation with 90 mM supplement of salinity at pH= 8.2. Proline and carbohydrates of citrus rootstocks were considerably increased by increasing the levels of salinity (90 mM NaCl) and alkaline stress (pH= 8.2) in each rootstock, at which condition the photosynthesis rate of Sour orange and Bakraei also declined by 34.77 and 50.80%, respectively. The activity of antioxidant enzymes such as peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase were increased by 57.42, 42.10, and 45.86% in Sour orange rootstock and 42.04, 26.78, and 37.92% in Bakraei rootstock, respectively. Overall, it can be concluded that the growth performance of Sour orange rootstock is more suitable than Bakraei to tolerate salt-alkali conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) is a common condition and a silent epidemic affectingmany postmenopausal women who suffer from it in silence. This study aimed to evaluate the effect ofCitrus aurantium vaginal cream on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women.Methods: This single-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study was conducted on 30postmenopausal women who were referred to the Gynecology Clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital in thecity of Noor, Iran, from June to November 2020. Citrus aurantium vaginal cream was administered towomen diagnosed with vaginal atrophy (based on subjective symptoms of atrophy, descriptive evaluationof the vagina, vaginal pH measurement, and degree of vaginal maturation determined by vaginal smear)every night in the first two weeks and every other night for the second two weeks. Data were collectedusing the scale of subjective symptoms of vaginal atrophy; descriptive evaluation checklist of vaginalmucosa; laboratory results registration form (vaginal maturation index, vaginal maturation value, andvaginal pH) before the intervention and two and four weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzedusing SPSS software (version 24) through the analysis of variance with repeated measurements, andLSD post-hoc test. A P value less than 0.05 (P

Background and Aim: Aging is often accompanied by inflammation and lipid abnormalities. This study aimed at investigating the effects of endurance training combined with Citrus aurantium L.var. amara Engl. (CAVAO) consumption on the lipid profile, intercellular adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecules-1 (VCAM-1) in aged Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 35 aged Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 7 groups: high-intensity interval training (HIIT), moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), HIIT with CAVAO (HIIT+CA), MICT with CAVAO (MICT+CA), CAVAO alone (CA) (300 mg/kg/day), control, and sham. Over eight weeks, HIIT was conducted at 85-110% VO2max intensity, while MICT was performed at 65-75% VO2max intensity. Lipid profiles were assessed using a kit, and ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 gene expressions were analyzed via RT-PCR. Results: HIIT, MICT, HIIT+CA, MICT+CA, and CA resulted in a significant increase in HDL levels, with HIIT showing the most pronounced effect (P

In addressing the agricultural challenges posed by climate change, the use of biofertilizers, derived from living organisms, promotes environmentally friendly crop cultivation, and represents an adaptive strategy for sustainable agriculture in the face of climate uncertainty. Careful selection of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) would represent a crucial step in mycorrhizal inoculation, considering the varying levels of compatibility between the AMF and the host plant. This study aimed to assess the impact of two AMF species that are prevalent in citrus soils of south-eastern Spain (Rhizophagus irregularis and Funneliformis mosseae) on the Citrus aurantium seedlings' behavior. Sour-orange plants showed a high mycorrhizal dependence regardless of the specific AMF species. Both R. irregularis and F. mosseae fungi exhibited high colonization percentages, with R. irregularis outperforming F. mosseae in root colonization. Inoculation with both AMF yielded notable growth improvements, but R. irregularis exhibited higher positive effects in the long term. The heightened P nutrition and increased chlorophyll concentration significantly enhanced the performance of AMF-inoculated plants. With F. mosseae, plants showed more pronounced improvements in P nutrition and a stronger correlation of their dry mass with P concentration; however, in general, inoculation with R. irregularis produced a higher sour-orange-plant performance. Both R. irregularis and F. mosseae fungi produced strong positive effects in sour-orange growth, which positioned them as viable biofertilizer options. These results can contribute to enhancing understanding for the development of an improved design of biofertilizers used in regions that are vulnerable to climate change, such as south-eastern Spain. This promotes a shift towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices by reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snakebite envenomation has been one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality around the world. Though intravenous administration of commercial anti-venom systemically neutralizes the toxicity, adverse effects are commonly seen in the post-treatment period. Plant metabolites and their derivatives have been shown to exhibit a wide range of antiophidian properties. In this study, we have investigated the Bungaruscaeruleus venom neutralization potential of Citrus aurantium and Citrus reticulata Blanco peels in terms of phospholipase and hemolytic inhibition. Methanolic extract of C. reticulata exhibited the highest inhibition (93%) of PLA2 activity. However, the extracts of both these Citrus species significantly inhibited the hemolytic activity of the venom (54-82%). Molecular docking indicated the binding of the citrus metabolites to catalytic site residues (TRP19, GLY30, TYR31, GLY32, and HIS48) of PLA2. In vivo studies using Swiss Albino mice confirmed the neutralising capacity of the citrus peel extract, as reflected by the increase in survival time. Therefore, the study reveals that these metabolites in the methanolic extract of the citrus peel can be used as supplements for the management of snake bites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the impact of an alcoholic extract of Citrus aurantium leaves on the mortality percentages in the larvae and pupae of house flies, Musca domistica, and was carried out in the Advanced Entomology Laboratory in the Department of Biology at the Girls College of Education at the University of Kufa in 2022. The results indicated an increase in the mortality percentages of larvae in the first and third stars of the house fly, Musca domistica with increasing concentrations used. In this study, the highest mortality percentages were recorded after three days of treatment with a concentration of 50 mg/ml (100 and 61%) in the first and third instar larvae, respectively. The effect of the alcoholic extract on some biological aspects when treating the third instar larvae of houseflies, as it led to a decrease in pupation percentages to 24% when treating pupae with a concentration of 50 mg/ml, and the pupal deformation percentages to 24% and a decrease in adult emergency percentages to 0% when treating pupae with the alcoholic extract of Citrus aurantium leaves at a concentration of 50 mg/ml, which increased the pupal deformation to 50% and decreased adult emergency percentages to 50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a rare inherited disorder in which red blood cells (RBCs) under oxidative stress have altered sickle shape resulting in clinical complications. In this study, a library of pure natural products were screened to see their effectiveness in preventing sickling induced in blood samples of SCA patients, ex-vivo. The results indicated that baicalin (1) and naringenin (2), reduced sickling by 46.03 and 37.48 percent, respectively, compared to positive control, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HBA), which inhibited RBC sickling by 56.87 percent. As a result of this screening, two compounds, baicalin (1) and naringenin (2), have been identified as potent sickling inhibitors. Study has clearly shown promising role of flavonoids for the management of SCD crisis for that not effective therapy is available. These phytochemicals or plant extracts can be explored further as an alternative anti-sickling remedy, owing to their high efficacy in the management of SCD crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have explored the biological activities of Citrus aurantium flowers, fruits, and seeds, but the bioactivity of C. aurantium leaves, which are treated as waste, remains unclear. Thus, this study developed a pilot-scale ultrasonic-assisted extraction process using the Box–Behnken design (BBD) for the optimized extraction of active compounds from C. aurantium leaves, and their antityrosinase, antioxidant, antiaging, and antimicrobial activities were evaluated. Under optimal conditions in a 150× scaleup configuration (a 30 L ultrasonic machine) of a pilot plant, the total phenolic content was 69.09 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight, which was slightly lower (3.17%) than the theoretical value. The half maximal inhibitory concentration of C. aurantium leaf extract (CALE) for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl–scavenging, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)–scavenging, antityrosinase, anticollagenase, antielastase and anti-matrix metalloprotein-1 activities were 123.5, 58.5, 181.3, 196.4, 216.3, and 326.4 mg/L, respectively. Moreover, the minimal inhibitory concentrations for bacteria and fungi were 150–350 and 500 mg/L, respectively. In total, 17 active compounds were detected in CALE—with linalool, linalyl acetate, limonene, and α-terpineol having the highest concentrations. Finally, the overall transdermal absorption and permeation efficiency of CALE was 95.9%. In conclusion, our CALE demonstrated potential whitening, antioxidant, antiaging, and antimicrobial activities; it was also nontoxic and easily absorbed into the skin as well as inexpensive to produce. Therefore, it has potential applications in various industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Postoperative pain is one of the most common physiological and psychological stress in patients that disrupts body function and can endanger patients’ health. This study aims to determine the effect of aromatherapy with Citrus aurantium essential on pain after orthopedic surgery. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was performed on 60 candidates for orthopedic surgery. Patients were selected through convenience sampling and divided into intervention and control groups through randomized block allocation. If the visual analogue scale (VAS) score was above 3, patients in the intervention group received aromatherapy with C. aurantium essential and the patients in the control group received a placebo (almond oil). VAS was used to measure pain. Data analysis was performed using independent t test, paired t test, and analysis of variance with repeated measures using SPSS software version 13. Results: Mean (SD) of pain intensity after intervention in experimental and control groups within 4, 8, and 12 hours after surgery was 7.30 (1.23) vs. 7.90 (0.99), 5.30 (0.98) versus 5.53 (0.68) and 2.53 (0.9) vs. 3.60 (0.77) respectively. The findings indicated that there was a significant difference in mean pain intensity between the experimental and control groups at 4 and 12 hours after surgery. Use of analysis of variance with repeated measures test with taking into account the interaction of time and group also showed a significant difference in mean pain intensity between the two experimental and control groups. Conclusion: Aromatherapy with Citrus aurantium essential can be effective in reducing mild to moderate pain after orthopedic surgery. Further studies are recommended to confirm this finding.

Introduction and aimsObesity is a multifactorial condition with high health risk, associated with important chronic disorders such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular dysfunction. Citrus aurantium L. (C. aurantium) is a medicinal plant, and its active component, synephrine, a β-3 adrenergic agonist, can be used for weight loss. We investigated the effects of C. aurantium and synephrine in obese adolescent mice programmed by early postnatal overfeeding.MethodsThree days after birth, male Swiss mice were divided into a small litter (SL) group (3 pups) and a normal litter (NL) group (9 pups). At 30 days old, SL and NL mice were treated with C. aurantium standardized to 6% synephrine, C. aurantium with 30% synephrine, isolated synephrine, or vehicle for 19 days.ResultsThe SL group had a higher body weight than the NL group. Heart rate and blood pressure were not elevated. The SL group had hyperleptinemia and central obesity that were normalized by C. aurantium and synephrine. In brown adipose tissue, the SL group showed a higher lipid droplet sectional area, less nuclei, a reduction in thermogenesis markers related to thermogenesis (UCP-1, PRDM16, PGC-1α and PPARg), and mitochondrial disfunction. C. aurantium and synephrine treatment normalized these parameters.ConclusionOur data indicates that the treatment with C. aurantium and synephrine could be a promising alternative for the control of some obesity dysfunction, such as improvement of brown adipose tissue dysfunction and leptinemia.

Cancer is a significant global health issue with high recurrence rates despite extensive treatments. Hence, the search for new anticancer treatments is of great importance. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of Citrus aurantium peels essential oil (CPEO) as a potential anti-cancer treatment. The Full Factorial Design 23 method was employed to optimize the yield of CPEO extraction and to examine its antioxidant and antiproliferative effects on HeLa and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. GC-MS analysis revealed that limonene is the major constituent of CPEO (68.32%). The optimal extraction yield of 5.47 g/100 g d.b was achieved with a 4-minute microwave pretreatment, 5 washings, and a minimum salt concentration of 175 g/L. The CPEO was endowed with interesting antioxidant activity evaluated by DPPH, H2O2, NO•, assays with IC50 of 0.492; 1.120; 1.243 mg/mL respectively. In addition, CPEO exhibited powerful antiproliferative effects evaluated with the MTT assay against HeLa (IC50 of 0.650 µg/mL) and MCF-7 (IC50 of 1.426 µg/mL) cell lines. The statistical correlation analyses showed a positive relationship between the IC50 values for MCF-7 and HeLa with the total phenol content (TPC). Based on the molecular docking study, CPEO constituents could dock into the binding pockets of EGFR with energy between -1.695 and -5.052 kcal/mol, As for VEGFR2, energy ranged between -4.175 and -8.096 kcal/mol. Naphthalen-1(2h)-one, limonene, and citral showed an interesting inhibition capacity against EGFR and VEGFR2 by molecular docking study. These findings suggest that CPEO would be a potential natural therapeutic agent for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and antioxidant properties of essential oils obtained from the peels of Citrus aurantium and extracted with MAHD and HD. The various compounds detected include limonene and linalol. In this context, we used the methods of bovine serum albumin anti-denaturation to evaluate the anti-inflammatory property and glucose uptake by yeast cells to evaluate the antidiabeticone. The results of evaluating the antidiabetic and the anti-inflammatory activities indicate that the essential oil extracted by MAHD has greater efficiency compared to the essential oil extracted by HD. Besides, the antioxidant potential of the essential oil was evaluated using the DPPH free radical scavenging, reducing power, and β-carotene/linoleic acid tests. Results show that the essential oil extracted by HD presents a high antioxidant activity. Moreover, essential oil is a potential source of important bioactive compounds and of possible synergistic effects among its components. To support the phytochemical analysis, an attempt was made to identify some potential compounds from Citrus aurantium essential oils that can inhibit important drug targets like bovine serum albumin (BSA), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and tubulin using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxic metals (TMs) are serious health hazard and are known to accumulate in fruits, which are consumed by people, owning to their distinct sweet flavor and potential health benefits. In the present study, arsenic (As), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and mercury (Hg) were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) techniques in orange samples from 11 farmhouses of Sargodha, Pakistan. Principal component analysis (PCA) is a very useful analysis and data-reducing tool. This technique was used to explore the relationship between different metal levels in the oranges. The conventional wet acid digestion method was validated and assured with two (02) certified reference materials NIST-SRM 1515-Apple and (CRM) NIST-1570a Spinach Leaves by recovery test coupled with standard addition procedure. The results showed that Cd and Cr average daily intakes are 0.084 and 0.15 mg slightly higher than World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (WHO/FAO) recommended tolerable daily intake respectively. The assessment of health risk was also carried out in form of total hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI), indicating three heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Cr) have significant human health risk potential to consumers while Cu, As, Hg, and Ni have non-significant (THQ < 1) health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Concomitant bacterial pathogens associated with Hepatitis B infection could further increase the stress on the liver of infected individuals thereby complicating the infection. Objective: This necessitates the need to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Citrus aurantium L. leaf extracts on bacteria isolated from blood of Hepatitis B positive individuals in Ondo State, Nigeria. Methods: The leaf extracts of Citrus aurantium (aqueous, ethanol and N-hexane) were assessed for possible antibacterial activities against some isolated bacteria from blood samples of HBV positive individuals were conducted using agar well diffusion technique. Results: Proteus mirabilis, S. typhi, S. aureus, Kl. pneumoniae, Ps. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. pneumoniae and Ch. Violaceum were isolated. The most frequently encountered bacterial species was S. aureus (52%). The ethanol leaf extract exerted the highest growth inhibitory activity on S. aureus, Kl. pneumoniae, Ps. auruginosa and E. coli. The aqueous leaf extract exerted the highest inhibitory on Ch. violaceum while the N- hexane extract exerted the highest growth inhibitory activity on P. mirabilis and Ps. aeruginosa. The extracts compared favorably well with conventional antibiotic (Ciprofloxacin) which is the positive control. The MIC of all the extracts ranged from 12.5 to 50.0 mg/ml while the MBC ranged from 25 to 100mg/ml. The analysis of the phytochemicals revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, cardiac glycoside and saponin in all the leaf extracts except for the absence of saponins in N-hexane extract. Conclusion: This study showed that these extracts could be exploited to treat infection caused by these bacterial pathogens

immune system in elderly people. This study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and low-intensity continuous training (LICT) along with Citrus aurantium (CA) extract on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in soleus muscle tissue of aged female rats. Materials and Methods: A total of 42 aged female rats were divided into (1) control (C), (2) LICT, (3) HIIT, (4) LICT+CA, (5) HIIT+CA, (6) CA, and (7) sham (normal-saline) groups. During eight weeks, HIIT was performed with an intensity of 85-90% of maximum speed and LICT with an intensity of 65% of maximum speed for five sessions per week, and 300 mg/kg/day of Citrus aurantium extract was daily intraperitoneally injected. The collected data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance with Tukey's post hoc statistical tests (P≤ 0.05). Results: TNF-α in LICT (P=0.001), HIIT+CA (P=0.004) and LICT+CA (P=0.007) groups were significantly lower than the C group. In the LICT group, TNF-α was significantly lower than the CA (P=0.001), HIIT (P=0.001), LICT+CA (P=0.02), and HIIT+CA (P=0.014) groups. It was also lower in the LICT+CA (P=0.007) and HIIT+CA (P=0.011) groups than the HIIT group. IL-6 levels in HIIT+CA group were significantly lower than the control group (P=0.02). Conclusion: It seems that the training (continuous and interval) along with CA extract has favorable effect on TNF-α compared to HIIT; however, investigating the mechanism of intensity and type of training as well as different dosage of CA on IL-6 requires further studies.

Abstract Synthesis of nanoparticles with a green approach using plants has attracted great attention from scientific communities because of its characteristics, such as environmentally friendly and time-efficient. In this study, green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles was performed by Citrus aurantium aqueous peel extract. UV–VIS, FTIR, zeta potential, SEM, and EDX were used in characterization studies. In the UV–Vis spectrum, a heightening of the absorbance was monitored in the range of 260–390 nm specific to ZnO. The mean particle size of zinc oxide NPs (ZnONPs) was characterized as 632 ± 41 nm with low polydispersity (0.174 ± 0.055). As a result of EDX analysis, the presence of Zn in the scanned area was determined as 2.32%. The cytotoxic behaviors of ZnONPs on human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) were carried out by MTT method. It was discovered that after ZnONPs application, cell migration decreased and apoptotic cell rate increased with Hoescht/PI staining in MDA-MB-231 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Postoperative pain is one of the most common physiological and psychological stress in patients that disrupts body function and can endanger patients' health. This study aims to determine the effect of aromatherapy with Citrus aurantium essential on pain after orthopedic surgery. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was performed on 60 candidates for orthopedic surgery. Patients were selected through convenience sampling and divided into intervention and control groups through randomized block allocation. If the visual analogue scale (VAS) score was above 3, patients in the intervention group received aromatherapy with C. aurantium essential and the patients in the control group received a placebo (almond oil). VAS was used to measure pain. Data analysis was performed using independent t test, paired t test, and analysis of variance with repeated measures using SPSS software version 13. Results: Mean (SD) of pain intensity after intervention in experimental and control groups within 4, 8, and 12 hours after surgery was 7.30 (1.23) vs. 7.90 (0.99), 5.30 (0.98) versus 5.53 (0.68) and 2.53 (0.9) vs. 3.60 (0.77) respectively. The findings indicated that there was a significant difference in mean pain intensity between the experimental and control groups at 4 and 12 hours after surgery. Use of analysis of variance with repeated measures test with taking into account the interaction of time and group also showed a significant difference in mean pain intensity between the two experimental and control groups. Conclusion: Aromatherapy with Citrus aurantium essential can be effective in reducing mild to moderate pain after orthopedic surgery. Further studies are recommended to confirm this finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• External standard calibration method was used for quantifying the main components of the essential oils (EOs) of citrus, lavender and rosemary. • The biological properties of the EOs and standard volatiles' combinations were evaluated and compared. • The antioxidant activity of the EOs were better than the standard volatiles' combinations. • The combination of 1,8-cineole and α-terpineol was better as inhibitor of the α-glucosidase activity than the EOs. Since ancient times, essential oils or their volatiles have been used in food, health and aromatherapy. Essential oils are complex mixtures constituted by dozens of compounds, which makes it difficult to attribute their biological properties to this or that compound or compound combinations. Moreover, the quantification of the volatiles is generally made through their relative percentage abundances. In the present study, the major volatiles isolated from Rosmarinus officinalis, Lavandula angustifolia , and Citrus aurantium essential oils extracted by simultaneous hydrodistillation-steam distillation were quantified through the external standard calibration method. Fifteen volatile mixtures were made using individual volatiles identified in the essential oils (EOs) to better find their role in the biological activities (antioxidant, anti-glucosidase, anti-inflammatory, anti-tyrosinase and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities). For almost mixtures assayed, the in vitro biological activities were generally poorer than those obtained for crude EOs, with the exception of the inhibitory effect on the α-glucosidase activity. In this case, 1,8-cineole and α-terpineol seem to have a positive role in inhibiting α-glucosidase activity, in contrast to camphor and borneol, which had the opposite action. Therefore there was a possible antagonist effect of both camphor and borneol in the volatile mixtures assayed on inhibiting the α-glucosidase activity. This approach also permitted us to conclude that there were several other factors not determined in the present work that were responsible for the activities found in the EOs, [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Pakistan is among the top agricultural countries around the globe, but mycotoxin contamination causes a major commercial loss every year. The present study aimed to isolate the fungi and their mycotoxins present in contaminated feed of animals in the local market of Peshawar. Methodology: The antifungal activity of certain plant extracts was to be tested against pathogenic fungi. TLC method was used for mycotoxin analysis and it was found that Aflatoxin G1, G2, B1 and B2 were present in different amounts both qualitatively and quantitatively based on samples. Result: This study found the presence of contamination in all the tested feed samples. All ten samples were found positive for Aspergillus flavus. B1 toxin was found in high quantity in all ten samples, while G2 was found in a lower quantity as compared to other toxins such as G1, B1 and B2. The quantity of aflatoxin was from 48.6 to 284.7 ppb in 25 g of samples. In the case of antifungal potency, all plant extracts showed important antifungal potency against tested fungi. The MIC and MFC values noted ranged from 110 to 300 mg/ml and 100–300 mg/ml respectively. Citrus aurantium and Myrtus communis were absorbed to have antifungal potency against all test fungi. Citrus aurantium extracts were also found to inhibit the growth of Aspergillus flavus. Conclusion: According to the results of the present research, a variety of fungal strains and aflatoxins were present in animal feed in numerous parts of Peshawar, Pakistan and different plant extracts can be used in animal feed to reduce this type of contamination.

Citrus aurantium L. (Rutaceae), commonly known as bitter orange, has multiple therapeutic potentials. An experimental qualitative study was carried out with the objective of knowing the characteristics of the consumption of C. aurantium (CA) in the Tabasco population. To validate its use, an ethanolic extract (85 %) was prepared from the dry CA leaves and phytochemical screening was performed, with subsequent quantification of the content of total phenols and flavonoids. Subsequently, antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH assay and acute toxicity with Artemia salina. The most used parts of the plant are the leaves to relieve muscle pain, cold symptoms. In the phytochemical study it was found that the extract contains alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, quinones and tannins. In the thin layer chromatography of the hydroalcoholic extract, the presence of naringin was demonstrated. A total phenol content of 69.42 ± 3.47 EAG/g DM and total flavonoids of 14.78 ± 0.28 EQ/g DM were obtained. It contains antioxidant activity of 9240 ± nmol TEAC/gMS and the acute toxicity test showed moderate toxicity. The results show that the 85% ethanolic extract contains phenolic compounds and flavonoids, allowing to sustain the medicinal and pharmacological properties conferred to the plant in the state of Tabasco.Conclusions: this study showed the existence of phenols and flavonoids, the antioxidant activity of hydroalcoholic extracts from C. aurantium leaves and their moderate toxicity against Artemia salina.

Vegetable, fruit and medicinal plant based snacks, have more acceptance and attractiveness than other ones. Citrus aurantium due to its Functional and nutritional factors, demand to consume it product. The aimed of this study was the production of Citrus aurantium based product which we named it Citrus aurantium Mill pastille. For this purpose, gelatin-pectin Mix Ratio (%5/5,7/3,9/1 and 10)and suger and isomalt was used as sweetner. The results showed by increasing the level of pectin, moisture was decreased, acidity and brix were increased. The results also suggest that texture characteristics with increasing pectin Hardness, Cohesiveness, Springiness and Chewiness increased. According to the results obtained from samples containing isomalt with ratio gelatin 9 pectin 1 a better ability to replace sugar And due to the appropriate nutritional characteristics, The pastilles known as functional food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orange (Citrus aurantium) peel was investigated for producing microporous nano activated carbons (OPAC). One-step chemical activation process by zinc chloride as an activating agent and a carbonization temperatures ranging from 500 to 900 °C was used to produce OPAC having high surface area of type I. The effects of carbonization temperature, impregnation ratio, and impregnation time on the properties of the OPAC were studied. The prepared activated carbons were characterized by FTIR; Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET); TGA; TEM, SEM, and EDAX analyses; the point of zero charge; and Boehm titration method. The maximal surface area of OPAC was activated by using the impregnation (orange peel/ZnCl2) ratio of 2:1, 700 °C carbonization temperature, and a 30-min holding time. The BET surface area, the total pore volume, and the micropore volume were 1228.2 m2/g, 0.5516, and 0.5482 cm3/g, respectively. The total pore volume increased with the increase of the activation temperature. The minimum pore diameter was 0.7 nm and the mean pore diameter was 1.797 nm. The results proved that the ZnCl2 chemical activation is a useful technique to prepare high surface area activated carbon from Citrus aurantium peels with nano pore size structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Concomitant bacterial pathogens associated with hepatitis B infection could further increase the stress on the liver of infected individuals thereby complicating the infection. Objective: This necessitates the need to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Citrus aurantium L. leaf extracts on bacteria isolated from blood of hepatitis B virus (HBV) positive individuals in Ondo State, Nigeria. Method: The leaf extracts of Citrus aurantium (aqueous, ethanol and N-hexane) were assessed for possible antibacterial activities against some isolated bacteria from blood samples of HBV positive individuals were conducted using agar well diffusion technique. Results: Proteus mirabilis, S. typhi, S. aureus, Kl. pneumoniae, Ps. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. pneumoniae and Ch. Violaceum were isolated. The most frequently encountered bacterial species was S. aureus (52%). The ethanol leaf extract exerted the highest growth inhibitory activity on S. aureus, Kl. pneumoniae, Ps. auruginosa and E. coli. The aqueous leaf extract exerted the highest inhibitory on Ch. violaceum while the N-hexane extract exerted the highest growth inhibitory activity on P. mirabilis and Ps. aeruginosa. The extracts compared favorably well with conventional antibiotic (Ciprofloxacin) which is the positive control. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of all the extracts ranged from 12.5 to 50.0 mg/ml while the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) ranged from 25 to 100mg/ml. The analysis of the phytochemicals revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, cardiac glycoside and saponin in all the leaf extracts except for the absence of saponins in N-hexane extract. Conclusion: This study showed that these extracts could be exploited to treat infection caused by these bacterial pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sleep disorders are so prevalent during pregnancy. The present study was conducted to investigate the impact of aromatherapy with Citrus aurantium essential oil on sleep quality in pregnant women with sleep disorders. Methods: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 68 pregnant women in their 28-34 weeks of pregnancy who sufferred sleep disorders and referred to Jiroft health centers in 2021 (January-June). Those meeting the inclusion criteria were divided into the intervention and placebo groups, using random sequence generated through the randomization website. They were given five drops of Citrus aurantium essential oil and the placebo twice a day, every day for one month in the form of facemasks which they inhaled through normal breathing for 20 minutes. Sleep quality was assessed before the intervention and one month after the start of the intervention. The demographic questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used for collecting the data. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 24 software. The Mann–Whitney-U, Wilcoxon and fisher exact tests were carried out. P-value

The purple scale, Lepidosaphes beckii (Newman) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), is one of the important citrus pests in Mazandaran Province, north ofIran. The bioecology of this pest was studied on citrus trees (Citrus aurantium) in citrus orchards of Mazandaran during 2018 and 2019. The results showed that this scale insect produces three generations per year and overwinters in the form of the second nymphal instars and adult females. A study on population flactuations revealed that the first generation of this pest, depending on the weather conditions, has been active since late May and its growth stages were completed in the first decade of August. Afterwards, the activity of the second generation begins and the first instar nymphs related to the second generation appear in the second decade of August. The activity of the third generation begins in the first decade of October. The crawlers disperse at the same time and the armored scale overwinters in the form of second nymph instars and adult females after establishing and completing growth. The trend of population fluctuations on the upper and lower of the leaves was similar. The activity of parasitoids was observed mainly on adult females in April to May and July to October, but the peak of their activity was in April to May.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease closely associated with immune dysregulation. Zhiqiao (Fructus aurantii), the nearly mature fruit of Citrus aurantium L., is widely used in traditional dietary therapy for intestinal health. Here, we extracted and purified neohesperidin from Zhiqiao and explored its alleviative effects on dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis and related inflammatory pathways in mice. The results showed that neohesperidin administration significantly ameliorated symptoms of colitis and reduced the accumulation of inflammatory cytokines in mouse tissues and serum. Decreases in the TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB p65 mRNA expression levels indicated that activity of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway was downregulated. Molecular docking results showed that neohesperidin occupies the lipopolysaccharide-binding pocket of MD-2 and binds to the interacting surface of TLR4/MD-2 and that of the subsequently formed homodimer, thereby disrupting recognition of inflammatory ligands by the TLR4-mediated pathway. Neohesperidin holds promise for the adjunctive treatment of ulcerative colitis. [Display omitted] • High-purity Zhiqiao neohesperidin (NHP) obtained by aqueous two-phase extraction. • NHP protects mice from colitis better than sulfasalazine at the same dose. • NFκB suppressed by NHP, followed by pro/anti-inflammatory factors decrease/increase. • A TLR4 antagonist, NHP in silico can inhibit trigger of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addressing the agricultural challenges posed by climate change, the use of biofertilizers, derived from living organisms, promotes environmentally friendly crop cultivation, and represents an adaptive strategy for sustainable agriculture in the face of climate uncertainty. Careful selection of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) would represent a crucial step in mycorrhizal inoculation, considering the varying levels of compatibility between the AMF and the host plant. This study aimed to assess the impact of two AMF species that are prevalent in citrus soils of south-eastern Spain (Rhizophagus irregularis and Funneliformis mosseae) on the Citrus aurantium seedlings’ behavior. Sour-orange plants showed a high mycorrhizal dependence regardless of the specific AMF species. Both R. irregularis and F. mosseae fungi exhibited high colonization percentages, with R. irregularis outperforming F. mosseae in root colonization. Inoculation with both AMF yielded notable growth improvements, but R. irregularis exhibited higher positive effects in the long term. The heightened P nutrition and increased chlorophyll concentration significantly enhanced the performance of AMF-inoculated plants. With F. mosseae, plants showed more pronounced improvements in P nutrition and a stronger correlation of their dry mass with P concentration; however, in general, inoculation with R. irregularis produced a higher sour-orange-plant performance. Both R. irregularis and F. mosseae fungi produced strong positive effects in sour-orange growth, which positioned them as viable biofertilizer options. These results can contribute to enhancing understanding for the development of an improved design of biofertilizers used in regions that are vulnerable to climate change, such as south-eastern Spain. This promotes a shift towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices by reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers.

Background: One of the most common problems in menopausal women is sleep disturbance. Citrus aurantium has sedative, hypnotic, and anti-anxiety effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Citrus aurantium aroma on the sleep quality of postmenopausal women. Methods: This was a double-blind randomized controlled trial that was conducted from Feb to Dec 2019 on 80 postmenopausal women who suffered from sleep disturbances. The participants were assigned into two groups randomly. Women in the intervention group were requested to use 2 drops of essential oil of Citrus aurantium, twice a day, for 4 consecutive days in a week, for 4 weeks as inhalation. The control group received almond oil in the same way. The quality of sleep was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) before the intervention and 4 weeks after the intervention started. The data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software, version 21, and p Results: After 4-weeks of intervention, the mean score of sleep quality was significantly lower in the Citrus aurantium group compared to the control group (5.75±1.33 vs 13±1.59, p