Orange peel extract holds promise in improving cardiovascular health: Breakthrough in metabolomics revealed in new research

The study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, found that orange peels may have cardiovascular benefits.

"These findings suggest that the orange peel polar fraction (OPP) containing feruloylputrescine holds the potential to alleviate cardiovascular diseases by modulating cntA/B and FMO3 enzymes without directly impacting gut microbiota composition," the researchers wrote.

For the last few years, interactions between the body’s gut microbiome and overall health have been the research focus. Previous studies show that a healthy gut microbiome and certain foods are linked to better cardiovascular health.

"This is a novel finding that highlights the previously unrecognized health potential of feruloylputrescine in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease," said Yu Wang, a UF/IFAS associate professor of food science and human nutrition.

Researchers from the University of Florida have found that an extract made from orange peels may improve heart health in male mice.

Hana Lee, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, Florida, United States, and colleagues compared the inhibitory effects of orange peel polar fraction (OPP) and orange peel nonpolar fraction (OPNP) on TMA and TMAO production in response to l-carnitine treatment in vivo and in vitro.

Metabolomics can be used to identify bioactive compounds. The research shows that the OPP effectively regulates atherosclerosis-related markers, TMA, and TMAO in urine and plasma, compared to the OPNP.

The investigation reveals that these inhibitory effects are independent of changes in gut microbiota composition. The effects are due to the modulation of cntA/B enzyme activity and FMO3 mRNA expression in vitro.

Furthermore, OPP exhibits stronger inhibitory effects on TMA production than OPNP, potentially due to its higher feruloylputrescine content, which displays the highest inhibitory activity on the cntA/B enzyme and TMA production.

"These findings suggest that orange peels, often discarded as waste in the citrus industry, can be repurposed into valuable health-promoting ingredients, such as diet supplements or food ingredients," said Wang, a faculty member at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center.

"Our research paves the way for developing functional foods enriched with these bioactive compounds, providing new therapeutic strategies for heart health."

Reference:

J. Agric. Food Chem. 2024, 72, 14, 7870–7881. Publication Date: April 1, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.3c09005