Citrus fruits offer natural protection for the heart. This has been demonstrated by a group of researchers at the department of Pharmacy at the University of Pisa, who recently published results of their work in the scientific journal "Biomedical Pharmacology".
These Pisan researchers have shown that naringenin – a flavonoid which citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons and grapefruits are particularly rich in – has (in addition to its anti-oxidant properties) important cardio-protective properties against ischemic damage by a specific interaction with a protein (in particular an ion channel) located at the level of the cardiac mitochondria. Many epidemiological studies had already pointed out that regular consumption of fruit and vegetables (foods rich in flavonoids) reduce the onset of cardiovascular pathologies.
Most of the experimental studies were nevertheless limited to emphasizing the well-known antioxidant properties of flavonoids, which alone are not sufficient to justify the effects of this important class of herbal compounds. "Even if, so far, studies have only been conducted upon experimental models," clarified Vincenzo Calderone and Lara Testai, the two researchers of the department of Pharmacy and the authors of this project, "this discovery could have a strong nutraceutical and pharmaceutical impact, since in industrial countries cardiovascular pathology remains the principal cause of death, resulting as it does, in high costs for the national health services of these countries.. Therefore the possibility of developing appropriate nutraceutical formulations based on naringenin is very promising. Such formulations, if regularly used as food integrators, can contribute to reducing cardiovascular risk.
"The activation of mitochondrial BK potassium channels contributes to the protective effects of naringenin against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury", in "Biochemical Pharmacy", 1 June 2013, pp. 1634-1643.