Hesperidin

See also :

• Flavonoids
• Diosmin

Other Names: Bioflavonoid, Bioflavonoid Complex, Bioflavonoid Concentrate, Bioflavonoid Extract, Bioflavonoïde, Bioflavonoïde d’Agrume, Bioflavonoïdes d’Agrumes, Citrus Bioflavones, Citrus Bioflavonoid, Citrus Bioflavonoids, Citrus Bioflavonoid Extract, Citrus Flavones, Citrus Flavonoids, Complexe de Bioflavonoïdes, Concentré de Bioflavonoïdes, Extrait de Bioflavonoïdes, Extrait de Bioflavonoïdes d’Agrumes, Flavonoid, Flavonoïde, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Hesperidina, Hespéridine, Trimethylhesperidin-chalcon.
Hesperidin is a plant chemical that is classified as a “bioflavonoid.” Hesperidin is a natural substance found primarily in unripe citrus fruit. Also available in supplement form, hesperidin is classified as a "bioflavonoid" (a type of compound with antioxidant effects).

Special Precautions of Hesperidin

• Hesperidin is likely safe when used orally for less than a year. However, it may be unsafe for people taking certain medications (including anticoagulants, blood pressure drugs, and calcium channel blockers). Therefore, it's important to consult your physician if you're considering using hesperidin in combination with other medications.
• Hesperidin may trigger a number of side effects, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of hesperidin during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Benefits and uses of Hesperidin are

• Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) : A condition in which the veins do not efficiently return blood from the legs to the heart, chronic venous insufficiency is linked to problems like varicose veins, ankle swelling, and nighttime leg cramping. Supplements containing a combination of hesperidin, extract of the herb butcher's broom, and ascorbic acid (a form of vitamin C) may help treat chronic venous insufficiency, according to a 2007 study published in International Angiology. The study involved 124 people with chronic venous insufficiency. Every day for eight weeks, all study members took two capsules of the hespiridin/butcher's broom/ascorbic acid formula. Starting in the second week of the study, participants showed significant improvements in their symptoms (including pain, cramps, and swelling). The study's authors suggest that the hespiridin/butcher's broom/ascorbic acid may help treat chronic venous insufficiency by producing beneficial effects in patients' blood vessels.
• Hemorrhoids : In a 1994 study from Angiology, a supplement containing a combination of hespiridin and diosmin (another antioxidant compound available in citrus fruits) was found to aid in the treatment of hemorrhoids. For the study, 100 patients suffering from a hemorrhoid attack were treated with either the hespiridin/diosmin combination or a placebo for seven days. Compared to the placebo group, members of the supplement group showed significantly greater improvement in symptoms.More recent research on the use of hespiridin in treatment of hemorrhoids is lacking.
• Osteoporosis : Hesperidin shows promise for the prevention for postmenopausal osteoporosis, a 2003 study from the Journal of Nutrition suggests. In tests on mice, researchers discovered that a hesperidin-rich diet helped inhibit bone loss in animals whose ovaries had been removed.
• Treating leg ulcers caused by poor circulation, when used in combination with diosmin. Hesperidin, in combination with diosmin and a compression dressing, seems to improve healing of small ulcers (less than 10 cm) caused by poor blood circulation.
• Reducing arm swelling in lymphedema following surgery for breast cancer.
• High Cholesterol : Preliminary research indicates that a combination of hesperidin and vitamin E may help keep cholesterol in check. In a 2001 study on rats (published in the International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research), scientists found that supplementing the animals' high-cholesterol diets with hesperidin and vitamin E helped reduce cholesterol levels in their blood.
• Anti-oxidant : Hesperidin neutralizes reactive oxygen species. This protects DNA, proteins, and tissues from radiation, inflammation, and toxins. It also prevents oncogenes from causing cells to become cancerous. Oncogenes are genes that can cause cells to transform into tumor cells.
• Cancer : Hesperidin may offer anti-cancer benefits, according to a preliminary study published in Phytotherapy Research in 2010. In tests on human breast cancer and prostate cancer cells, the study's authors found that hesperidin inhibited the spread and growth of cancer cells.
• Anti-inflammatory : Hesperidin and its metabolites lower inflammation. In cellular models of inflammation, hesperidin administration suppressed iNOS protein levels and COX-2 enzyme levels.
• Protects the brain : Protects the Brain : Hesperidin neutralizes reactive oxygen species. Its antioxidant properties protect the brain from oxidative damage .D-galactose is a sugar that causes oxidative stress in the brain. If present in the nervous system, it kills nerve cells by disrupting mitochondrial function. In rats, pre-treatment with hesperidin and curcumin protected the brain against D-galactose. It reduced cognitive problems by preventing nerve cell death . In mice models of Alzheimer’s disease, hesperidin administration reduced symptoms of the disease. A dose of 100 mg/kg per day of hesperidin reduced learning and memory problems. It also improved physical activity. Finally, hesperidin may be able to protect the brain during strokes. A dosage of 50 mg/kg of hesperidin daily for 15 days helped with brain function in male rats. It reduced inflammation, and also reduced free radicals in the brain. Hesperidin also helps protect against memory loss in rats that suffered from a stroke. Pre-treatment with hesperidin and L-arginine slightly protected against memory loss.
• Protects the Heart : Many factors affect heart health. Oxidative stress, high fat, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol all contribute to an unhealthy heart. Hesperidin administration helps with all these symptoms and protects the heart.
  • Hesperidin Protects Heart Tissue : Daily oral hesperidin administration at 100 mg/kg to old rats for 90 days benefited heart tissue. Hesperidin protected against oxidative stress and increased antioxidant levels. It also lowered inflammation.
  • Hesperidin Helps Control Blood Sugar : Diabetes also contributes to heart disease. You can protect the heart by lowering your glucose levels.
  • Hesperidin may increase adiponectin, a protein hormone that helps control glucose and fat energy production. Increasing adiponectin helps reduce fat accumulation. This improves blood vessel conditions and improves circulation in the heart.
  • Hesperidin Reduces Blood Pressure : Over the course of four weeks, a combination of hesperidin and orange juice helped lower blood pressure levels in overweight males.
  • Hesperidin May Lower Cholesterol : In rats fed a high cholesterol diet, hesperidin supplementation reduced total cholesterol levels. It may help prevent high cholesterol by inhibiting the formation and absorption of cholesterol. However, hesperidin does not show the same effects in humans. In men and women with high cholesterol levels, hesperidin and naringin (another citrus flavonoid) administration did not lower cholesterol levels.
• Works As an Adaptogen and Antidepressant : In the rat model of stress-induced depression, hesperidin may be able to reduce depressive symptoms. Three weeks of oral administration improved rat behavior in this study. This may be due to the control of the HPA axis, which is a stress response system. The opioid system is also a contributing factor for major depression. Hesperidin possessed antidepressant-like properties and positively interacts with the opioid system. It worked with opioid receptors to reduce depression symptoms in mice.Hesperidin also has an antidepressant effect in diabetic rats. By lowering glucose and inflammation levels, it enhanced brain function and reduced depression symptoms.
• Reduces Stress and Anxiety : Stress causes health problems. It increases oxidative damage in the body, also activating the HPA axis, causing changes in the body’s homeostasis (balance). Chronic stress causes anxiety and mood disorders. Hesperidin’s antioxidant activity helps reduce stress, therefore protecting health. It prevents oxidative damage and helps to stop anxiety.
• Relieves Pain : Nervous system dysfunction causes a condition called neuropathic pain. Injured nerve cells contribute to pain and inflammation. Hesperidin administration helped reduce pain in mouse models of prolonged inflammation and pain. It reduced inflammation by inhibiting inflammatory cytokine production by stopping NF-κB activity. Hesperidin and diosmin (another flavonoid) administration also decreased pain in rats. The combination of these flavonoids helped protect nerve cells.
• Helps Treat Allergies : Immunoglobulin E (IgE) provokes allergic reactions by releasing histamine and causing inflammation. In humans, administration of both hesperidin and hesperidin suppressed IgE’s effects. It inhibited histamine release and stopped Th2 cytokine secretion. Oral ingestion of hesperidin in mice helped stop allergic reactions. It reduced the responsiveness of the airways to antigens. This suggests that it may help reduce asthma symptoms.
• Enhances Skin Health : Topical hesperidin treatment in mice helped with skin health. It kept the skin barrier at a balance, and also stimulated skin cell production. Additionally, hesperidin protects the skin from radiation. A compound called hesperidin methyl chalcone helped stop oxidative damage in mouse skin cells. It reduced free radicals in a mouse model of UV radiation and reduced inflammatory cytokine production. Topical hesperetin may also be an effective skin whitening agent.
• Promotes Bone Health and Prevents Osteoporosis : Hesperidin administration enhances osteoblast formation. Osteoblasts are cells that help with bone formation. Hesperitin-7-glucuronide is the main circulating form of hesperidin. Its administration in rats helped increase bone cell formation. Estrogen deficiency during menopause causes bone loss and osteoporosis. Estrogen replacement therapy prevents bone loss; however, it may cause adverse effects like bleeding and cancer. Hesperidin may improve bone energy production. It prevents bone loss caused by estrogen deficiency. In female mice, hesperidin supplementation prevented bone loss in all three areas of the femur. Osteoclasts are bone cells that break down bone tissue to release minerals. Hesperidin decreased the number of osteoclasts in the bones. In addition to preventing bone loss, hesperidin did not have any negative effects on the uterus. However, the dose of hesperidin used in the study was much higher than the usual daily intake. It is unlikely for someone to consume that high of an amount in a normal diet. Androgen deficiency can also cause bone loss. Male mice fed a diet with hesperidin had less bone loss compared to mice fed a normal diet.
• May Have Sleep-Enhancing Properties : Hesperidin administration may help enhance sleep. It also has sedative properties. Its sedative properties might come from its ability to activate opioid receptors. However, its sedative properties are only significant if it is injected into the body at a high level. Oral intake of hesperidin might not have the same effects.
• May Improve Circulation : Oral administration of both hesperidin and hesperetin may increase blood flow. Daily intake of 500 mg of hesperidin daily for three weeks in metabolic syndrome patients increased blood flow. This is due to the widening of their blood vessels.Additionally, 150 mg of a water-soluble form of hesperidin improved blood flow in women.

Food Sources

• Citrus Fruits :
  • Oranges
  • Tangerine
  • Lemons
  • Grapefruit
  • Unfiltered orange Juice
  • Orange marmelade
• Herbs and Plants
  • Boehmeria nivea
  • Dangshen (Codonpsis pilosula)
  • Japanese catnip (Schizonepeta tenuifolia)
  • Valeriana wallichii
  • Honeybush (Cyclopia subternata )
  • Byrsonima crassifolia
  • Peppermint (Mentha × Piperita)