IOSR Journal Of Pharmacy
(e)-ISSN: 2250-3013, (p)-ISSN: 2319-4219
Volume 6, Issue 8 Version. 1 (Aug 2016), PP. 76-108
www.iosrphr.org
Nutritional value and pharmacological importance of citrus
species grown in Iraq
Dr Ali Esmail Al-Snafi
Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Thi qar University, Iraq
Abstract:- Citrus fruits contained many phytochemicals including essential oils, alkaloids, flavonoids,
coumarins, psoralens, carotenoids with a wide range of nutritional components including vitamins, minerals
and trace elements. The previous pharmacological studies revealed that citrus fruits possessed antimicrobial,
anthelmintic, insect repellent, antioxidant, anticancer, cardiovascular, central nervous, anti-inflammatory,
analgesic, antidiabetic, reproductive, gastrointestinal, immunological, respiratory and many other
pharmacological effects. This review was designed to highlight the chemical constituents, nutritional value and
pharmacological activities of citrus fruits.
Keywords: constituents, nutritiona, pharmacology,
Citrus medica var. limetta, Citrus sinensis
citrus fruits, Citrus aurantifolia, Citrus medica,
Introduction
Medicinal plants are the Nature’s gift to human beings to help them pursue a disease-free healthy life.
Plants are a valuable source of a wide range of secondary metabolites, which are used as pharmaceuticals,
agrochemicals, flavours, fragrances, colours, biopesticides and food additives (1-50). Citrus contained nutrients
and phytochemicals that were beneficial for health. Citrus fruits and juices contain a wide range of substances
including carbohydrates, fibre, vitamin C, potassium, folate, calcium, thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin A,
phosphorus, magnesium, copper, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and a variety of phytochemicals. These substances
are necessary for proper functioning of the body but some confer additional protection against chronic disease
over and basic nutrition. Citrus fruits are also low in fat and in overall dietary energy – a major consideration
given the increasing rate of obesity in both adults and children. It also has a relatively low glycaemic index
which helps in maintaining a more stable blood glucose level and generally healthier carbohydrate metabolism.
Citrus fruits also contained many phytochemicals including essential oils, alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins,
psoralens and carotenoids. The previous pharmacological studies revealed that citrus fruits possessed
antimicrobial, anthelmintic, insect repellent, antioxidant, anticancer, cardiovascular, central nervous, antiinflammatory, analgesic, antidiabetic, reproductive, gastrointestinal, immunological, respiratory and many other
pharmacological effects. This review will highlight the chemical constituents, nutritional value and
pharmacological activities of citrus fruits.
Plants profile:
Synonyms(53):
Any botanical classification of citrus fruit faces several difficulties. All citrus types hybridise easily.
New hybrids are continuously developed to obtain desired qualities such as seedlessness, juiciness and fresh
taste. New hybrids spontaneously arise by cross-pollination. The most modern methods of molecular research
are sometimes needed to distinguish citrus types from each other. However, the synonyms of citrus species
were:
Citrus aurantifolia
Limonia aurantifolia Christre. & Panzer, Citrus javanica Blume, Citrus notissima Blanco, Citrus acida
Roxb., Citrus hystrix ssp. acida (Roxb.) Engl., Citrus lima Lunan, Citrus limetta var. aromatica Wester, Citrus
medica var. acida (Roxb.) Hook. f., Limonia aurantiifolia Christm., Citrus acida Pers., Citrus alata (Tanaka)
Yu.Tanaka, Citrus amara Link, Citrus articulata Willd. ex Spreng. Citrus assamensis R. M. Dutta &
Bhattacharya, Citrus aurantiaca Swingle, Citrus aurantiifolia var. latifolia Yu. Tanaka, Citrus aurantiifolia
subsp. murgetana García
Lidón & al., Citrus aurantium var. amara L., Citrus aurantium subsp.
aurantiifolia (Christm.)
Guillaumin,
Citrus
aurantium
var.
crassa
Risso,
Citrus
aurantium var. daidai Makino, Citrus aurantium var. decumana L. Citrus aurantium f. deliciosa, (Ten.)
M.
Hiroe,
Citrus aurantium f. grandis (L.)
M.
Hiroe,
Citrus aurantium subsp. ichangensis,
Citrus aurantium f. intermedia, Citrus aurantium var. japonica, Citrus aurantium subsp. junos, Citrus
aurantium var. limetta, Guillaumin.
76