Common names | bitter orange blossom

Scientific name | Citrus aurantium amara

Used part | Flower

Known active compounds | flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenes

Potential benefits in cosmetics | anti-oxidant, anti-microbial

Product name | Bitter Orange Blossom-APD, Bitter Orange Blossom-ANB

Plant Story

Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium amara), also called sour orange, Seville orange, bigarade orange, or marmalade orange, is an orange species having a distinctly bitter and sour taste. It is thought to be a cross between pomelo, Duncan grapefruit, and mandarin orange and native to Southeast Asia. Bitter orange was perhaps introduced to Islamic regions more than 1000 years ago, and then to Spain and to the Americas. Bitter orange flowers have been used as a flavoring agent, as well as for medicinal purposes for anti-depressant, anti-infectious, and sedative properties.

Constituents and bioactivities of bitter orange flowers have been reported in a few scientific studies. Bitter orange flowers were found to be a source of various phytochemicals such as flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids. In addition, bitter orange flowers have anti-oxidant properties. Anti-oxidant activity of bitter orange flowers was confirmed by DPPH and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assays and was higher than that of hydrosol or essential oil. Moreover, bitter orange flowers have anti-microbial activity. Ethanolic extract of bitter orange flowers inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Listeria monocytogenes.