View source for Bitter orange

:''For the fruit known as "Chinese Bitter Orange," see [[Trifoliate orange]]''.
{{taxobox
|name = ''Citrus aurantium''
|image = Koeh-042.jpg
|regnum = [[Plant]]ae
|unranked_divisio = [[Flowering plant|Angiosperms]]
|unranked_classis = [[Eudicots]]
|unranked_ordo = [[Rosids]]
|ordo = [[Sapindales]]
|familia = [[Rutaceae]]
|genus = [[Citrus]]
|species = '''''C. aurantium'''''
|binomial = ''Citrus aurantium''
|binomial_authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]], 1753<ref name="GRIN">{{cite web |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?10684 |title=''Citrus aurantium'' L. |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |date=1999-12-17 |accessdate=2010-01-05}}</ref>
|}}

The name "'''bitter orange'''", also known as '''Seville orange''', '''sour orange''', '''bigarade orange''', and '''marmalade orange''', refers to a [[citrus]] tree ('''''Citrus aurantium''''') and its fruit.  Many varieties of bitter oranges are used for their [[essential oil]], which is used in [[perfume]] and as a [[flavoring]]. Bitter orange is also used in [[Herbalism|herbal medicine]] as a [[stimulant]] and [[appetite suppressant]], and has replaced [[ephedra]], that was banned in USA, in many herbal [[Anti-obesity medication|weight-loss products]],<ref name="nyt">{{cite news | publisher = ''[[New York Times]]'' |url = http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/11/health/policy/11cons.html | title = Bitter Orange Under Scrutiny as New Ephedra | last = Duenwald | first = Mary | date = 2005-10-11 | accessdate = 2008-11-03}}</ref> despite similar concerns about potential serious side effects and lack of effectiveness.<ref name="sharpe"/><ref name="nccam"/>

==Varieties==
*[[Citrus aurantium amara|''Citrus aurantium'' subsp. ''amara'']] is a [[Thorns, spines, and prickles|spiny]] [[evergreen]] tree native to southern [[Vietnam]], but widely cultivated.   It is used as [[grafting]] [[Rootstock|stock]] for [[citrus]] trees, in [[marmalade]], and in the [[liqueur]]s [[Triple sec]], [[Grand Marnier]] and [[Curaçao liqueur|Curaçao]]. It is also cultivated for the [[essential oil]] expressed from the fruit, and for [[neroli oil]] and [[orange flower water]], which are [[distillation|distilled]] from the [[flower]]s.
*'''Seville orange''' (or ''bigarade'') is a widely-known, particularly tart orange which is now grown throughout the Mediterranean region. It has a thick, dimpled skin and is prized for making [[marmalade]], being higher in [[pectin]] than the [[orange (fruit)|sweet orange]], and therefore giving a better set and a higher yield. It is also used in [[compote]]s and for orange-flavored liqueurs.
*[[Bergamot orange]], ''C. aurantium'' subsp. ''bergamia'' is cultivated in [[Italy]] for the production of bergamot oil, a component of many brands of [[perfume]] and [[tea]], especially [[Earl Grey tea]].
*[[Chinotto]], from the [[myrtle-leaved orange]] tree, ''C. aurantium'' var. ''myrtifolia'', native to Italy; used for the namesake Italian soda beverage.
*[[Daidai]],  ''C. aurantium'' var. ''daidai'', used in [[Traditional Chinese medicine|Chinese medicine]] and [[Japanese New Year]] celebrations.
*Wild Florida sour orange, found near small streams in generally secluded and wooded parts of [[Florida]].

==Uses==

===In cooking===
The unripe fruit called "narthangai" is commonly used in [[South India|Southern Indian]] food, especially in [[Tamil cuisine]]. The unripe fruit is [[Pickling|pickled]] by cutting it into spirals and stuffing it with salt.  The pickle is usually consumed with [[thayir sadam]].  The fresh fruit is also used frequently in [[pachadi]]s.
The juice from the ripe fruit is also used as a [[marinade]] in meat in [[Nicaraguan cuisine|Nicaraguan]], [[Cuban cuisine|Cuban]] and [[Cuisine of the Dominican Republic|Dominican]] cooking.
The peel can also become an ingredient in [[bitters]].
The Belgian [[Witbier]] (white beer) is a [[beer]] made from wheat which is spiced with the peel of the bitter orange.
The Finnish and Swedish use bitter orange peel in [[gingerbread]] ([[Pepparkakor]]), also in [[mämmi]]. It's also used in the Nordic [[mulled wine]] [[glögg]].

===In medicine===
The [[solvent extraction|extract]] of bitter orange (and bitter orange peel) has been used in [[dietary supplements]] as an [[Anti-obesity medication|aid]] to [[Weight loss|fat loss]] and as an [[appetite suppressant]], although in [[traditional Chinese medicine]] it is always prescribed in concert with other support herbs, not in isolation. Bitter orange contains [[synephrine]], a substance similar to [[ephedrine]], which acts on the [[alpha-1 adrenergic receptor|α<sub>1</sub> adrenergic receptor]] to [[vasoconstriction|constrict blood vessels]] and increase [[blood pressure]] and [[heart rate]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Bui LT, Nguyen DT, Ambrose PJ |title=Blood pressure and heart rate effects following a single dose of bitter orange |journal=The Annals of Pharmacotherapy |volume=40 |issue=1 |pages=53–7 |year=2006 |month=January |pmid=16317106 |doi=10.1345/aph.1G488 |url=}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Hess AM, Sullivan DL |title=Potential for toxicity with use of bitter orange extract and guarana for weight loss |journal=The Annals of pharmacotherapy |volume=39 |issue=3 |pages=574–5 |year=2005 |month=March |pmid=15657116 |doi=10.1345/aph.1E249 |url=}}</ref>

Following bans on the herbal stimulant [[ephedra]] in the [[United States|U.S.]], [[Canada]], and elsewhere, bitter orange has been substituted into "ephedra-free" herbal weight-loss products by [[dietary supplement]] manufacturers.<ref name="nyt"/> While bitter orange has not undergone formal safety testing, it is suspected to cause the same spectrum of [[adverse events]] as ephedra.<ref name="jordan">{{cite journal |author=Jordan S, Murty M, Pilon K |title=Products containing bitter orange or synephrine: suspected cardiovascular adverse reactions |journal=Canadian Medical Association Journal |volume=171 |issue=8 |pages=993–4 |year=2004 |month=October |pmid=15497209 |doi= |url=http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=15497209}}</ref> [[Case report]]s have linked dietary supplements to [[stroke]]s,<ref>{{cite journal |author=Bouchard NC, Howland MA, Greller HA, Hoffman RS, Nelson LS |title=Ischemic stroke associated with use of an ephedra-free dietary supplement containing synephrine |journal=Mayo Clinic Proceedings |volume=80 |issue=4 |pages=541–5 |year=2005 |month=April |pmid=15819293 |doi= |url=}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Holmes RO, Tavee J |title=Vasospasm and stroke attributable to ephedra-free xenadrine: case report |journal=Military Medicine |volume=173 |issue=7 |pages=708–10 |year=2008 |month=July |pmid=18700609 |doi= |url=}}</ref> [[angina]],<ref>{{cite journal |author=Gange CA, Madias C, Felix-Getzik EM, Weintraub AR, Estes NA |title=Variant angina associated with bitter orange in a dietary supplement |journal=Mayo Clinic Proceedings |volume=81 |issue=4 |pages=545–8 |year=2006 |month=April |pmid=16610576 |doi= |url=}}</ref> and [[ischemic colitis]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Sultan S, Spector J, Mitchell RM |title=Ischemic colitis associated with use of a bitter orange-containing dietary weight-loss supplement |journal=Mayo Clinic Proceedings |volume=81 |issue=12 |pages=1630–1 |year=2006 |month=December |pmid=17165643 |doi= |url=}}</ref>

The [[National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine]] found that "there is currently little evidence that bitter orange is safer to use than ephedra."<ref name="nccam">{{cite web | publisher = [[National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine]] | title = Bitter Orange | url = http://nccam.nih.gov/health/bitterorange/ | date = April 2008 | accessdate = 2008-11-03}}</ref> There is no evidence that bitter orange is effective in promoting weight loss.<ref name="sharpe">{{cite journal |author=Sharpe PA, Granner ML, Conway JM, Ainsworth BE, Dobre M |title=Availability of weight-loss supplements: Results of an audit of retail outlets in a southeastern city |journal=Journal of the American Dietetic Association |volume=106 |issue=12 |pages=2045–51 |year=2006 |month=December |pmid=17126636 |doi=10.1016/j.jada.2006.09.014 |url=}}</ref>

The fact that bitter orange is a [[stimulant]] which [[vasoconstriction|constricts blood vessels]] and increases [[blood pressure]] and [[heart rate]] means that it is [[thermogenic]], increasing metabolism, and an appetite suppressant.  These three property are a large contributing factor to fat loss, supporting any diet.

== See also ==
* [[Neroli]]
* [[Orange flower water]]
* [[Grand Marnier]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons|Citrus aurantium}}
* [http://nccam.nih.gov/health/bitterorange/ Bitter Orange]: Information from the [[National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine]]
*[http://sun.ars-grin.gov:8080/npgspub/xsql/duke/plantdisp.xsql?taxon=276 Bitter Orange List of Chemicals (Dr. Duke's Databases)]
*[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/11/health/policy/11cons.html Bitter Orange Under Scrutiny as New Ephedra], from the ''[[New York Times]]''
*[http://www.beverlyhillsnutraceuticals.com/research2009/ingredientinfo.html Citrus Aurantium listed in ingredients info (Beverly Hills Nutraceuticals)]

[[Category:Citrus]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1753]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Herbal and fungal stimulants]]
[[Category:Dietary supplements]]

[[ar:نارنج]]
[[bo:ཚ་ལུ་མ་སྐྱུར་མོ།]]
[[bg:Бергамот]]
[[ca:Taronger agre]]
[[cs:Citrus Aurantium]]
[[ch:Kahet]]
[[da:Pomerans]]
[[de:Bitterorange]]
[[et:Pomerantsipuu]]
[[el:Νεραντζιά]]
[[es:Citrus × aurantium]]
[[eo:Bigaradujo]]
[[fa:نارنج]]
[[fr:Bigaradier]]
[[it:Citrus × aurantium]]
[[he:חושחש]]
[[kk:Бигарадия]]
[[sw:Mdanzi]]
[[la:Aurantium]]
[[lt:Karčiavaisis citrinmedis]]
[[nl:Zure sinaasappel]]
[[no:Pomerans]]
[[pms:Citrus aurantium]]
[[pl:Pomarańcza gorzka]]
[[pt:Laranja-azeda]]
[[ru:Померанец]]
[[sc:Aranzu]]
[[fi:Pomeranssi]]
[[sv:Pomerans]]
[[to:Kola]]
[[tr:Turunç]]
[[zh:苦橙]]