Therapeutic Wonders of Citrus: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Fruits of Citrus sp. are reported to be packed with diverse essential nutrients have been valued in traditional medicine across numerous cultures for centuries due to their bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, polyphenols, coumarins, limonoids, carotenoids, tocopherols, and alkaloids. The secondary metabolites in citrus fruits exhibit diverse health-promoting properties, making them chemo-preventive, cardiovascular-protective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, and anti-dyslipidaemic, while also aiding in improving blood profiles. While the nutritional benefits of whole citrus fruits and their juices are widely acknowledged, the potential of other parts, such as essential oils, peels, seeds, seed oils, and pomace, remains underappreciated. The methodology adopted was the sources available in Scopus, Google Scholar and Web of Science. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the bioactive compounds present in various parts of citrus fruits, along with their mechanisms of action and molecular targets. Citrus peels are rich in vitamins, minerals, essential oils, flavonoids, carotenoids, and carbohydrates, all of which contribute to mitigating oxidative stress and may play a role in the prevention or management of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, infections, and neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression. Citrus juice is a significant source of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and vitamins, which exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antihypertensive, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimutagenic, antihyperglycemic, antibacterial, and neuroprotective effects. Additionally, citrus seed oil, characterized by its content of vitamins, carotenoids, and fatty acids, has demonstrated potential therapeutic benefits in the management of hypercholesterolemia, obesity, cancer, and other metabolic disorders. Researchers interested in the field of nutraceuticals will find the literature on successful in vivo studies on experimental animal models as well as human trial.