Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) seeds oil: pharmacognostic, anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive properties

Hamedi, Azadeh; Zarshenas, Mohammad M.; Jamshidzadeh, Akram; Ahmadi, Saeed; Heidari, Reza; Pasdaran, Ardalan

doi:10.30476/tips.2019.82996.1020

Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) seeds oil: pharmacognostic, anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive properties

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Azadeh Hamedi

Mohammad M. Zarshenas ¹

Akram Jamshidzadeh ²

Saeed Ahmadi ³

Reza Heidari ²

Ardalan Pasdaran ⁴

¹ Department of phytopharmaceuticals (Traditional Pharmacy), School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Essence of Parsiyan Wisdom Institute, Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Plant Incubator, Shiraz University of Medical Sc

² Department of Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

³ Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

⁴ Medicinal Plants Processing Research Center, Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

10.30476/tips.2019.82996.1020

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the pharmacognostic properties of Citrus aurantium seeds as well as its anti-inflammatory activities. The n-hexane fraction of seed oil extracted via a Soxhlet extractor and subjected to pharmacognostic assays, HPTLC and GC-MS analysis for determination of fatty acids and sterols. The possible anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities in rats were evaluated using formalin-induced paw licking, oedema and myeloperoxidase activity assessment. Total ash, acid insoluble and water soluble ash values were determined as 35.83 ± 4.92, 6.67 ± 2.89 and 28.33 ± 5.77 mg/g, respectively. HPTLC assessment revealed the presence of different fatty acids and steroidal triterpenes. The principal fatty acids of the seed oil were linoleic acid (C18:2, 50.10 ± 2.58 %) and Oleic acid (C18:1, 30.14 ± 0.39). Esterified (2.40 mg/g) and free β-sitosterol (32.90 mg/g), free campesterol (3.9 mg/g) and free stigmasterol (10.165 mg/g) were detected in the oil. Seed oil exhibited anti-inflammatory properties in the first and the second phases of formalin test. Also, it had anti-edematogenic effects but exerted no effects on myeloperoxidase activity.

Keywords

Citrus aurantium

seed oil

Bitter orange

anti-inflammatory

phytosterols

linoleic acid