Review of the nutritional composition, medicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Citrus reticulata Blanco (Rutaceae)

Abstract

<ns3:p> <ns3:italic>Citrus reticulata</ns3:italic> Blanco is a moderately-sized fruit tree widely used as herbal medicine worldwide. The nutritional composition, medicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of <ns3:italic>C. reticulata</ns3:italic> were critically reviewed in the current study. The literature linked to <ns3:italic>C. reticulata</ns3:italic> properties was obtained from multiple internet sources including Elsevier, Google Scholar, SciFinder, Web of Science, Pubmed, BMC, Science Direct, and Scopus. Ethnopharmacological research identified antioxidants such as vitamin C, carotenoids and phenolic compounds, also a source of sugars, organic acids, amino acids, pectins, minerals and volatile organic compounds as components of <ns3:italic>C. reticulata</ns3:italic> . As a medicinal plant, <ns3:italic>C. reticulata</ns3:italic> is used for the treatment of dyspepsia, gastro-intestinal distension, cough with profuse phlegm, hiccup and vomiting. The crude extracts of <ns3:italic>C. reticulata</ns3:italic> fruits have depicted anti-inflammatory, anticholesterolemic, analgesic, antiasthmatic, antiscorbutic, antiseptic, antitussive, carminative, expectorant, stomachic. With more people becoming nutrition-conscious, there has been an increase in the demand for the use of citrus fruits and their by-products as traditional medicines for conventional healthcare in developing countries. </ns3:p>

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