Bitter orange constituent

Petitgrain oils are obtained by steam distillation of the leaves of citrus trees. The oils derived from the bitter orange tree are the most important. Other petitgrain oils (mandarinier, citronnier, and bergamottier) are less important. Petitgrain oil mandarinier is a source of natural methyl A -methylanthranilate, which is present at a concentration of nearly 50%. Petitgrain oils are essential constituents of eau de cologne. 

Methyl anthranilate 172 (Structure 4.51) is found in the oils of sweet orange, lemon, mandarin, bergamot, neroli and ylang-ylang oils and jasmine and tuberose absolutes. Methyl N-methyl anthranilate 173 is the main constituent of mandarin petit grain oil, and occurs also in bitter orange, mandarin and rue oils. 

Monoterpenes, 10-carbon-containing terpenoids, are composed of two isoprene units, and found abundantly in plants, e.g. (+)-limonene from lemon oil, and (—)-linalool from rose oil. Many monoterpenes are the constituents of plant volatile oils or essential oils. These compounds are particularly important as flavouring agents in pharmaceutical, confectionery and perfume products. However, a number of monoterpenes show various types of bioactivity and are used in medicinal preparations. For example, camphor is used in liniments against rheumatic pain, menthol is used in ointments and liniments as a remedy against itching, bitter-orange peel is used as an aromatic bitter tonic and as a remedy for poor appetite and thymol and carvacrol are used in bactericidal preparations. 

In a subsequent study, oral doses of synephrine of up to 100 mg/kg body weight (at least 20 times the normal equivalent human dose) given to pregnant rats for 20 days did not produce developmental toxicity. No adverse effects were observed with respect to fetal weight, embryo-lethality, or incidence of gross, visceral or skeletal abnormalities. In this study, administration was either as a natural constituent in a bitter orange extract standardized to 6% synephrine, or as relatively pure 90% synephrine extract (Hansen et al. 2011). 

ILS. 2004. Bitter orange Citrus aurantium var. amara) extracts and constituents ( )-p-synephrine [CAS No. 94-07-5] and ( )-p-octopamine [CAS No. 104-14-3] Review of toxicological literature. Research Triangle Park, NC Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc. 

Tanret, C. 1886. On some constituents of the iieel of the bitter orange. Acad. Sci. Paris 102, 518. 

Brandy or alcohol extracts of spices and herbs may be used for flavoring vermouth (Rizzo, 1957). Spices like anola, and ginger are known to possess medicinal properties, as well as antimicrobial activities (Joshi and John, 2002). The precise details of extraction differ among manufactures. The more important botanical constituents include coriander, cloves, chamomile, dittany of Crete, orris, and quassia. Additional flavorant may include allspice, angelica, anise, bitter almond, cinchona, coriander, juniper, nutmeg, orange peel, and rhubarb. 

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