Unveiling the Chemistry of Citrus Peel: Insights into Nutraceutical Potential and Therapeutic Applications.

The recent millennium has witnessed a notable shift in consumer focus towards natural products for addressing lifestyle-related disorders, driven by their safety and cost-effectiveness. Nutraceuticals and functional foods play an imperative role by meeting nutritional needs and offering medicinal benefits. With increased scientific knowledge and awareness, the significance of a healthy lifestyle, including diet, in reducing disease risk is widely acknowledged, facilitating access to a diverse and safer diet for longevity. Plant-based foods rich in phytochemicals are increasingly popular and effectively utilized in disease management. Agricultural waste from plant-based foods is being recognized as a valuable source of nutraceuticals for dietary interventions. Citrus peels, known for their diverse flavonoids, are emerging as a promising health-promoting ingredient. Globally, citrus production yields approximately 15 million tons of by-products annually, highlighting the substantial potential for utilizing citrus waste in phyto-therapeutic and nutraceutical applications. Citrus peels are a rich source of flavonoids, with concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 5.5 g/100 g dry weight, depending on the citrus variety. The most abundant flavonoids in citrus peel include hesperidin and naringin, as well as essential oils rich in monoterpenes like limonene. The peel extracts exhibit high antioxidant capacity, with DPPH radical scavenging activities ranging from 70 to 90%, comparable to synthetic antioxidants like BHA and BHT. Additionally, the flavonoids present in citrus peel have been found to have antioxidant properties, which can help reduce oxidative stress by 30% and cardiovascular disease by 25%. Potent anti-inflammatory effects have also been demonstrated, reducing inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and TNF-α by up to 40% in cell culture studies. These findings highlight the potential of citrus peel as a valuable source of nutraceuticals in diet-based therapies.

Diet and lifestyle modifications for effective management of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is caused by abnormal production of androgens resulting in the formation of small fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries. This condition worsens the life quality of women by disturbing their physiology and psychology in reproductive age. PCOS may also be associated with other morbidities like diabetes and hypertension. Numerous factors like imbalanced dietary patterns, poor lifestyle activities, improper care and medication, late diagnosis, and ignorance are involved in the prevalence of this disease in women. Hence, an early diagnosis and improved dietary and lifestyle management may improve the life quality and timely recovery of the patient from this disease. Various herbal extracts show a positive correlation in reducing the indicators associated with PCOS. This review discusses the effect of dietary and lifestyle practices on PCOS as prominent features. It has been recommended that a balanced diet with 40% energy from carbohydrates, 30% from fats, and 30% from protein with optimum physical activity could reduce severe PCOS symptoms and improve metabolic balance. Furthermore, recommendations for modification of diet and lifestyle activities are made which may positively influence the recovery from PCOS. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) severely affects the life quality of suffering women. The dietary patterns, lifestyle activities, and co-medical conditions collectively affect the severity and related consequences of PCOS. This article provides sufficient information on dietary and lifestyle modifications to effectively manage this disease. Furthermore, dietitians, nutritionists, gynecologists, and obstetrics physicians can benefit from the information provided in it to understand and develop the management strategies to alleviate the disease symptoms and severity.

Prophylactic Potential of Conventional and Supercritical Garlic Extracts to Alleviate Diet Related Malfunctions.

OBJECTIVES: The present research was tailored to explore the prophylactic role of garlic extracts to mitigate some diet related malfunctions. The recent patents regarding antidiabetic agents (US 20140147528 A1) and garlic compositions (US 20110129580 A1) also helped in the study design. METHODS: Bioevaluation trials were conducted on Sprague Dawley rats by feeding garlic extracts for a period of sixty days. Accordingly, three studies were carried out comprising of normal, hyperglycemic and hypercholesterolemic rats. Drink & feed intakes and weight gain were measured throughout the trial. After sixty days, collected sera from rats were analyzed for serum cholesterol, LDL, HDL & triglyceride levels and glucose & insulin concentrations. Finally, the data obtained were subjected to statistical modeling. RESULTS: Results concerning the bioevaluation trials revealed that maximum 12.39% reduction was observed in serum cholesterol in Study III (hypercholesterolemic rats) on the provision of garlic supercritical extract (nutraceutical diet) followed by 10.24% decline in rats fed on solvent extract supplemented diet (functional diet). Regarding LDL, maximum decrease (17.02%) was recorded on the administration of diet having garlic supercritical extract to the hypercholesterolemic rats. While in Study II (hyperglycemic rats) maximum decrease of 11.03% in glucose level was recorded in rats fed on supercritical extract containing diet. In the same group maximum increase in insulin (7.95%) was recorded. CONCLUSIONS: From the current investigations, it can be concluded that garlic based designer foods possess the prophylactic perspectives to alleviate the risk of metabolic ailments. Thus, it can be used in the diet based therapeutic interventions as an adjuvant to pharmaceuticals.