Supplement
Orange peel is the outer rind of the fruit, rich in flavonoids such as hesperidin that act as antioxidants and influence blood vessel function. People mostly look at it for blood pressure, and trials of hesperidin found systolic and diastolic readings came down in mildly hypertensive adults, so the evidence is moderate. Only two trials, with about 300 people, contributed, and interest in its other uses rests mostly on lab work.
Sources: PMID 36677869; PMID 40728012
- Updated
- How we grade
- 7 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade B
- Conditions studied
- 3
- Outcomes
- 7
- Graded outcomes
- 0124
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Pressure Multiple RCTs demonstrate that hesperidin, the primary flavonoid in orange peel, reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The active metabolite hesperetin improves vascular tone, with B-grade evidence supporting clinically meaningful blood pressure reductions in mildly hypertensive adults. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 2 studies | 300 people | ||
Studies that measured blood pressure | ||||||
| Endothelial Function Human trials show hesperidin from orange peel improves flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a marker of endothelial function. The hesperetin metabolite enhances nitric oxide bioavailability, though the number of well-powered trials remains limited. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 2 studies | 150 people | ||
Studies that measured endothelial function | ||||||
General
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic Venous Insufficiency Symptoms Hesperidin-containing citrus flavonoid preparations have been studied for chronic venous insufficiency, reducing leg heaviness and capillary fragility. Human data exists but from a small number of trials, often using combination formulas with diosmin. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 2 studies | 100 people | ||
Studies that measured chronic venous insufficiency symptoms | ||||||
| Anti-tumor Activity In vitro studies demonstrate cytotoxic activity of hesperidin extracted from orange peel against human carcinoma cell lines. This evidence is limited to cell culture models and no human clinical data exist. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 4 studies | |||
Studies that measured anti-tumor activity
| ||||||
| Skin Health A 2024 review identifies hesperidin from orange peel as a promising skincare bioactive, citing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and UV-protective properties in preclinical models. Human clinical trials for dermatological endpoints are lacking. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 3 studies | |||
Studies that measured skin health
| ||||||
Antioxidant Status
- Antioxidant Status: improves
Alzheimer’s Disease
- Neuroprotection: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neuroprotection Polymethoxyflavones (nobiletin, tangeretin) found in orange peel show neuroprotective effects in rodent models of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and are able to cross the blood-brain barrier. No controlled human trials have been conducted to date. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 2 studies | |||
Studies that measured neuroprotection | ||||||
Key findings
- Blood PressureImproves (the measure goes down)
- Endothelial FunctionImproves (the measure goes up)
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)
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Third-party tested Orange Peel products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade B
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Studies cited
7 studies from PubMed
- A simple and economic solid-phase extraction method for purification of hesperidin from orange peel using a metal-organic framework-adsorbent (MIL-101 (Cr)).
- Hesperidin from Orange Peel as a Promising Skincare Bioactive: An Overview.
- In Vitro Bioaccessibility of Bioactive Compounds of Freeze-Dried Orange Juice Co-Product Formulated with Gum Arabic and Modified Starch.
- Pressurized Extraction as an Opportunity to Recover Antioxidants from Orange Peels: Heat treatment and Nanoemulsion Design for Modulating Oxidative Stress.
- Identification of flavonoids with trypsin inhibitory activity extracted from orange peel and green tea leaves.
- Antioxidant capacity of hesperidin from citrus peel using electron spin resonance and cytotoxic activity against human carcinoma cell lines.
- The phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity assessment of orange peel (Citrus sinensis) cultivated in Greece-Crete indicates a new commercial source of hesperidin.