The Intestinal Fate of Citrus Flavanones and Their Effects on Gastrointestinal Health

Abstract

Citrus flavanones, with hesperidin and naringin as the most abundant representatives, have various beneficial effects, including anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Evidence also indicates that they may impact the intestinal microbiome and are metabolized by the microbiota as well, thereby affecting their bioavailability. In this review, we provide an overview on the current evidence on the intestinal fate of hesperidin and naringin, their interaction with the gut microbiota, and their effects on intestinal barrier function and intestinal inflammation. These topics will be discussed as they may contribute to gastrointestinal health in various diseases. Evidence shows that hesperidin and naringin are metabolized by intestinal bacteria, mainly in the (proximal) colon, resulting in the formation of their aglycones hesperetin and naringenin and various smaller phenolics. Studies have also shown that citrus flavanones and their metabolites are able to influence the microbiota composition and activity and exert beneficial effects on intestinal barrier function and gastrointestinal inflammation. Although the exact underlying mechanisms of action are not completely clear and more research in human subjects is needed, evidence so far suggests that citrus flavanones as well as their metabolites have the potential to contribute to improved gastrointestinal function and health.

Citrus × Clementina Hort. Juice Enriched with Its By-Products (Peels and Leaves): Chemical Composition, In Vitro Bioactivity, and Impact of Processing

“…The ability of Citrus flavanones to exert beneficial effects depends on their bioavailability, correlated with their chemical structure, food matrix, and host factors. A bioavailability study on hesperidin, the most abundant flavanone glycoside in C. × clementina, showed that, after intake, it was resistant to enzymatic breakdown in the stomach and small intestine and, therewith, mainly reached the colon intact [75]. Hesperidin, containing rutinose groups, is hydrolysed only in the distal part of the intestine and the colon by the gut microbiota bacteria, α-rhamnosidases, that remove rhamnose moiety, followed by the removal of glucose by β-glucosidases.…”

Citrus Taste Modification Potentials by Genetic Engineering

“…The flavanone naringenin is the dominant flavonoid backbone in some citrus species, while it might undergo a variety of modifications to form other flavanones, for instance, hydroxylation and methylation to generate its derivative hesperetin [1,28]. The bitter-tasting naringin is the major contributor to the bitter taste in grapefruit and neohesperidin in sour orange [27,29]. Naringinase is widely used as a debittering enzyme in the commercial production of citrus juice, and our lab has reported a mutated α-L-rhamnosidase of naringinase complex with enhanced performance on thermostability and citrus juice debittering efficacy [30].…”

Comparative investigation of phytochemicals among ten citrus herbs by ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry and evaluation of their antioxidant properties

“…sarcodactylis Swingle. These typical citrus herbs have been applied widely to improve gastrointestinal motility disorders and to treat respiratory diseases [8][9][10]. They were used as medicine-food dual-purpose herbs (MFDPHs, including CP, JL, DDH, HJH, XY, and FS), functional foods (including ZS, ZQ, and QP), or medical herbs (JH) due to their benefit chemical components and multiple bioactivities after simple processing approaches including removing impurity, wetting, and drying [5,10].…”