The Flesh, Juice & Skin Benefits Of The Orange

Kids bring them to soccer games and adults put them in sangria – the orange is a symbol of fun for children and seniors alike.

The orange is one of the most well known foods across the world. It is part of the Rutaceae family and goes by the binomial name Citrus Sinensis. It is a prominent source of vitamin C and contains a multitude of benefits (1).

The sweet orange, the species in which we are accustomed to, is a hybrid consisting of 42% pomelo and 58% mandarin. The first known recognition of this fruit dates back to 314 BC in China, and it has a rich history of European cultivation. Today, the orange is the 5th most cultivated fruit in the world (2, 3).

 

Nutrients

Citrus fruits contain no fat, sodium, or cholesterol. They are notoriously low in calories, which may render them as suitable weight loss supplements. Oranges in particular are extremely high in vitamin C and carotenoids (10).

Vitamin C supplements were traditionally used to treat scurvy, an illness deriving from a vitamin C deficiency. Though it rarely affects developed countries, scurvy still exists in poorer regions. Modern research shows that vitamin C can be used against a variety of chronic illnesses, thanks to its potent antioxidant and phenolic activity (11).

The carotenoid content of oranges retains various benefits. Apart from contributing high levels of antioxidants, they support:

• Bone health
• Functions of the immune system
• Skin health
• Eye health
• Cancer (12)

Among other nutrients, oranges are noticeably rich in vitamin A, iron, calcium, lutein, phosphorus, and potassium. Vitamin A in particular is necessary for maintaining:

• Healthy mucus membrane (immune system)
• Skin
• Vision
• Overall bodily functions

Potassium is also very prevalent in oranges, and plays an important role in the regulation of bodily fluids, heart rate and blood pressure (13).

Oranges are very alkaline in nature, and thus stimulate the flow of fluidity within the body. They comprise appropriate benefits for constipation.

 

Antioxidants

As with all citrus fruits, the orange is loaded with antioxidants. They are primarily found within its content of phenolic flavonoids, which are known to rid the body of toxic free radicals.

Free radicals have been shown to damage nucleic acids and proteins in the body, consequently eradicating essential life molecules (4, 6). 

Red oranges may carry the highest content of antioxidants as compared to any other species. This is based off of their higher concentration of flavonoids and intracellular bioactivity (8).

Surprisingly, the peel byproduct of the orange actually contains a powerful concentration of antioxidants.

The antioxidant value of peel extract was measured in a study through its suppression of H₂O₂-induced DNA (damaged DNA). Ethyl acetate extracts of the peel showed the greatest anti-oxidation results in comparison to acetone, methanol, and hexane extracts. They all however portrayed some protection against the damaged DNA, indicating that orange peel extract retains a varying degree of antioxidants (9).

Another study measured the effects of daily orange juice consumption of adults.

After 2 weeks, there was a 47% reduction in plasma lipid peroxidation – a significant amount. Those who were smokers or abused drugs & alcohol seemed to incur the largest benefits, as they were most likely to be deficient in vitamins & minerals. This data reveals that orange juice has an abundance of rapid healing antioxidants (12).

Other benefits of oranges, extending from their phytochemical antioxidants, includes:

• Anti-cancer
• Arthritis relief
• Support weight loss
• Prevent coronary heart diseases (13)

 

Dietary Fiber

Orange peels are a noble source of carotenes and pectin, both of which provide a considerable content of dietary fiber. This is because pectin is in fact a soluble fiber, which is a compound that slows down the body’s digestive functions (5).

The regular consumption of fiber is vastly important for a healthy diet. It prevents gastro-intestinal and cardiovascular diseases, and can be a natural alternative to treating diabetes. This is because fiber:

• Reduces cholesterol
• Increases fecal quantity
• Lowers glycemic response (7).

Additionally, the left over residue from extracted orange juice (also known as pulp) happens to bear considerable quantities of pectin. As a result, orange juice pulp provides protection to the gastro-intestinal tract and acts as a detoxifier (10).

 

Anti-Bacterial

Essential oil extracted from orange peel has been demonstrated to uphold considerable anti-bacterial activity.

One study synthesized nanoparticles of orange peel aqueous solution at 25°C and 60 °C, which showed strong inhibition effects against several lethal bacteria, including:

• Escherichia coli (E. Coli)
• Listeria monocytogenes
• Salmonella typhimurium
• Proteus mirabilis
• Bacillus cereus

This is likely the consequence of the extract’s 94% potency of limonene, an anti-bacterial compound found in orange peels. The study also indicates that there are many anti-bacterial compounds found within the aqueous solution of the peel. It is therefore determined that orange peel extract has a wide-spectrum of anti-bacterial activity (8).

 

Anti-Inflammation 

The profusion of flavonoids in citrus fruits have moderate anti-inflammatory value. This is based off the presence of several regulatory enzymes including:

• Protein kinase C
• Phosphodiesterase
• Phospholipase
• Lipoxygenase
• Cyclooxygenase (13)

These flavonoids are responsible for the control of several biological mediators, who are thereby responsible for the activation of endothelial cells.

Alongside other specialized cells, when endothelial cells are activated they can become very inflamed and may even affect the functions of the immune system (14).

Furthermore, oranges and other citrus fruits may inhibit atherosclerosis due to their content of hesperidin. Hesperidin has an inhibiting effect on lipopolysaccharide, a bacteria that may accumulate in the arteries and consequently cause atherosclerosis (15).

 

Anti-Carcinogenic

The combined makeups of antioxidants in the orange have been shown to possess massive amounts of anti-carcinogens. The most prominent constituents, being hesperidin and diosmine, reduce the risk of developing cancer in the:

• Mouth
• Skin
• Breast
• Stomach
• Colon

This is also demonstrated by the orange’s content of polymethoxylated flavones, which destroy cancer cells and detoxify hepatic enzymes (1).

A further study indicates that orange juice extracted from three pigmented species of C. Sinensis inhibited cancer cell proliferation of human prostatic epithelial (cell lining of the prostate).

The results displayed 100% anti-proliferative activity against leukemia cells at merely 73% concentration of the juice extract. Even at just 10% concentration, the juice demonstrated 90.5% anti-proliferative activity against the growth and spread of MCF-7 (breast cancer) cells (8).

Flavonoids additionally exhibit anti-mutagenic affects, and thus prevent DNA from interacting with tumour cells.

Their anti-tumour effects were demonstrated in a study consisting of malignant (cancer) rat cells from cardiac (heart) and hepatic (liver) tissues. The results indicated that flavonoids hinder the development and formation of tumour cells in rats. This is likely the outcome of the avert cell mobility that flavonoids exhibit (13).

Conclusion

Known for its abundance of vitamin C, the orange is glowing with antioxidants that counteract the effects of cancer, arthritis, obesity and bacterial infections.

Although typically the flesh of the orange is most often consumed, the peel has demonstrated immense value pertaining to its fiber, antioxidant and vitamin A content.

Orange juice has additionally illustrated impressive benefits with regards to its hearty supply of antioxidants and enzymes, stimulating anti-proliferative activity against cancer cells.

Whether freshly squeezed, zested, or sliced – the orange quenches taste as well as it delivers nutrients.