Seville orange (Citrus aurantium)

Citrus aurantium

The seville orange is native to southeastern Asia. The normal types of seville orange are usually too sour to be enjoyed out-of-hand and are popularly used in the form of marmalade.

On January 5, 2007, deaths and reports of hypertension and racing pulse in dieters have driven weight-loss products containing ephedra off the shelves of drug and health stores. Manufacturers rushed to replace them with many products that are touted as having the effect of ephedra, without the dangerous side effects. People taking such products that contain the herb Citrus aurantium, or Seville orange, may be doing just as much harm to their body as products that contained ephedra.

A new review published by Georgetown University Medical Researchers found that no reliable scientific evidence supports the use of Citrus aurantium for losing weight. More important, however, was the evidence that high doses of the herbal remedy may not be safe. Citrus aurantium contains synephrine, which can cause hypertension, and it also interacts with drugs in a manner similar to grapefruit juice.

Source: “Citrus Aurantium, Herbal Weight Loss Ingredient, Ephedra Substitute, May Have Risks,” Medical News Today, August 28, 2004.