Grapefruit seed extract
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Grapefruit seed extract (GSE), also known as citrus seed extract, is a liquid derived from the seeds, pulp, and white membranes of grapefruit. Grapefruit seed extract is sold as a food supplement and used in cosmetics because it is a claimed natural antimicrobial.
This extract has been stated by some practitioners of alternative medicine to possess antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.[1] It has been recommended by some nutritionists for the treatment of candidiasis, earache, throat infections, and diarrhea.[1]
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[edit] Properties
There is evidence that the extract of citrus grapefruit seed has antioxidant properties.[2][3] Analysis shows the constituents of the seed extract and pulp are flavonoids,[4][5] ascorbic acid (commonly known as vitamin C[6][7][8]), tocopherols, citric acid,[2] limonoids,[9][10][11] sterols, and minerals.[12] A study suggests the consumption of the bioactive compounds found in grapefruit seed and pulp may help suppress the development of colon cancer.[13] Another study showed the flavonoid naringin is an excellent plasma lipid lowering and plasma antioxidant active elevating flavonone.[14]
[edit] Precautions
Grapefruit can have a number of interactions with certain drugs, increasing the potency of many compounds,[15] including warfarin (coumadin). Grapefruit has components that inhibit the CYP3A4 enzyme in the intestine.[15] Thus, it is this effect that increases the rate of absorption of several drugs.[16] There are concerns about the safety of ingesting synthetic preservatives found in grapefruit seed extract.[17]
[edit] Controversy
Some consumers believe this extract is an effective natural preservative even though some scientific studies have concluded that the universal antimicrobial activity is from contamination with synthetic antimicrobials.[18][19]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Sims, Judith. Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Available in e-book format. Thomson Gale. 2001.
- ^ a b Armando C, Maythe S, Beatriz NP (December 1997). "Antioxidant activity of grapefruit seed extract on vegetable oils". Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 77 (4): 463–7. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0010(199808)77:4<463::AID-JSFA62>3.0.CO;2-1. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/10007270/ABSTRACT.
- ^ Giamperi L, Fraternale D, Bucchini A, Ricci D (March 2004). "Antioxidant activity of Citrus paradisi seeds glyceric extract". Fitoterapia 75 (2): 221–4. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2003.12.010. PMID 15030930.
- ^ Drewnowski A, Gomez-Carneors C (2000). "Bitter taste, phytonutrients, and consumer: a review". Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 72 (6): 1424–35. PMID 11101467.
- ^ Tirillini B (2000). "Grapefruit: the last decade acquisitions". Fitoterapia 71: 29–37. doi:10.1016/S0367-326X(00)00176-3. PMID 10930710.
- ^ Andrew W. Saul, Ph.D. Vitamin C Has Been Known To Fight 30 Major Diseases... For Over 50 Years. Orthomolecular Medicine News Service. March 15, 2006.
- ^ Vitamin C. American Cancer Society. 2009.
- ^ The World's Healthiest Foods; Grapefruit. The George Mateljan Foundation. 2009.
- ^ Bennett RD, Hasegava S, Herman Z (1989). "Glucosides of acidic limonoids in citrus". Phytochemistry 28 (10): 2777–81. doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98087-7.
- ^ Ohta H, Fong CH, Berhow M, Hesegawa (1993). "Thin-layer and high-performance liquid chromatographic analyses of limonoids and limonoid glucosides in citrus seeds". J. Chromatogr. 639 (2): 295–302. doi:10.1016/0021-9673(93)80266-B.
- ^ Braddock RJ, Bryan CR (2001). "Extraction parameters and capillary electrophorisis analysis of limonin glucoside and phlorin in citrus products". J. Agric. Food Chem. 49 (12): 5982–8. doi:10.1021/jf010737n. PMID 11743796.
- ^ Tushiswili LS, Durmishidze SV, Sulaberidze KV (1983). "Sterols of grapefruit, orange, mandarin pulps (Citrus paradisi, Citrus sinensis, Citrus unshiu)". Chem. Nat. Comp. 18: 445–7.
- ^ Vanamala J, Leonardi T, Patil BS, et al. (June 2006). "Suppression of colon carcinogenesis by bioactive compounds in grapefruit". Carcinogenesis 27 (6): 1257–65. doi:10.1093/carcin/bgi318. PMID 16387741.
- ^ Gorinstein S, Leontowicz H, Leontowicz M, et al. (April 2005). "Changes in plasma lipid and antioxidant activity in rats as a result of naringin and red grapefruit supplementation". J. Agric. Food Chem. 53 (8): 3223–8. doi:10.1021/jf058014h. PMID 15826081.
- ^ a b Bakalar, Nicholas. Experts Reveal the Secret Powers of Grapefruit Juice. The New York Times. March 21, 2006.
- ^ He K, Iyer KR, Hayes RN, Sinz MW, Woolf TF, Hollenberg PF (April 1998). "Inactivation of cytochrome P450 3A4 by bergamottin, a component of grapefruit juice". Chem. Res. Toxicol. 11 (4): 252–9. doi:10.1021/tx970192k. PMID 9548795.
- ^ Todd Caldecott. Grapefruit seed extract antibiotic activity is due to preservative compounds. Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients. 2005
- ^ Ganzera M, Aberham A, Stuppner H (May 2006). "Development and validation of an HPLC/UV/MS method for simultaneous determination of 18 preservatives in grapefruit seed extract". J. Agric. Food Chem. 54 (11): 3768–72. doi:10.1021/jf060543d. PMID 16719494
- ^ Sakamoto S, Sato K, Maitani T, Yamada T (1996). "[Analysis of components in natural food additive "grapefruit seed extract" by HPLC and LC/MS]" (in Japanese). Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku (114): 38–42. PMID 9037863
