Grapefruit seed extract

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Grapefruit seed extract (GSE), also known as citrus seed extract, is a liquid derived from the seeds, pulp, and white membranes of grapefruit. While there has been no scientific demonstration of efficacy, this extract has been alleged by some practitioners of alternative medicine to possess antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties. Indeed, it has been recommended by some nutritionists for the treatment of candidiasis, earache, throat infections, and diarrhea. Some natural food retailers claim this extract to be safe, natural, and effective. However, recent studies have identified synthetic preservatives in commercial grapefruit seed extracts. When no preservatives were present in some of the extracts tested in the laboratory, the natural extracts were found to have little or no natural antimicrobial attributes of their own. An early proponent was Dr. Jacob Harich (1919–1996). Some of the manufacturers of GSE have claimed that their extract has compounds nearly identical to benzethonium chloride but the 2001 study overiewed by chemist G. Takeoka and ran by fellow researchers have documented that commercial GSE preparations contain the synthetic compound benzethonium chloride that couldn't have been made from GSE. Yet, promoters from book authors to cosmetic companies still affirm this extract has strong natural healing properties even though the validity of the studies portray the opposite.

Contents

[edit] History

The grapefruit is a sub-tropical citrus tree grown for its fruit which was originally named the "forbidden fruit" of Barbados.[1] The fruit was first documented in 1750 by Rev. Griffith Hughes describing specimens from Barbados.[2] All parts of the fruit have uses. The fruit is mainly consumed for a tangy juice. The peel is expressed into an aromatherapy oil. The seed and pulp as a by-product of the juice industry is sold as poultry feed and is manufactured for use to make an extract. GSE was originally developed by Dr. Jacob Harich, a nuclear physicist. In 1963, he journeyed to Florida, the heart of grapefruit country, and began research and later marketing of GSE.[3]

[edit] Scientific research

Anecdotal claims for an antimicrobial effect are loosely supported by small abstract scientific experiments which apparently show some antimicrobial activity in in vitro assays such as the agar diffusion test.[4][5][6] However, there is considerable scientific evidence that the anti-microbial activity associated with grapefruit seed extract is attributable to the contamination or adulteration of commercial GSE preparations with synthetic antimicrobials or preservatives.[7] After careful evaluation of the anecdotal claims for an antimicrobial effect, the preliminary studies state that the Citricidal brand of GSE was used for testing.[4][5] That said, despite the anecdotal antimicrobial claims, according to the 2001 GSE study, the Citricidal brand as well as the Nutribiotic brand were both contaminated with synthetic benzethonium chloride that was implausible to be made from grapefruit seeds.[8] Another in vitro study claimed GSE has antimicrobial activity against bacteria.[6] As the same with the branded in vitro test[4][5] that was contaminated with preservatives,[8] the ethanolic extract tested had been adulterated with a preservative known as ethanol used in the extraction process.[6] Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, is effective in inhibiting bacteria.[9] Nevertheless, as a result of marketing by manufacturers in the health food arena and a few misinterpreted studies conducted in vitro that tested contaminated extracts which were not pure GSE processed without solvents or brands which are known to contain preservatives, the controversy of the effectiveness of GSE continues even when studies conclude self-made pure GSE has no natural antimicrobial properties and commercial GSE has been identified with contamination from synthetic preservatives.[7][8][10][11][12]

Independent studies have shown that commercial preparations contain the compound benzalkonium chloride, which is a synthetic antimicrobial commonly used in disinfectants and cleaning products, the related compound benzethonium chloride, the antibiotic triclosan, or the preservative methylparaben.[10][11][12] Some samples were shown to contain up to 22% benzalkonium chloride by weight, despite the known allergenicity and toxicity of the compound at higher doses.[12] These chemicals were not present in grapefruit seed extracts prepared in the laboratory, and GSE preparations without the contaminants were found to possess no significant antimicrobial effect.[10] Self-made citrus seed extracts had no broad-spectrum capabilities as a preservative. Although GSE is sold in health food shops, there is no good evidence for any natural antimicrobial activity.[10]

A study that examined the antiviral properties of GSE found that GSE had no efficacy as a disinfectant for feline calicivirus and feline parvovirus.[13] Grapefruit seed extract has been advocated to be a powerful antimicrobial with proven activity against bacteria and fungi. However, independent studies have shown the efficacy of grapefruit seed extract as an antimicrobial is not demonstrated. Although citrus seed extract is claimed to be a highly effective plant-based preservative by some natural personal care manufacturers, studies scientifically indicate the universal antimicrobial benefits associated with GSE are merely from the presence of synthetic preservatives. Natural GSE has no antimicrobial properties.

[edit] Properties

There is good evidence that the extract of citrus grapefruit seed has low levels of antioxidant properties.[14][15]

Analysis research revealed the constituents of the seed extract and pulp are made up of flavonoids,[16][17] absorbic acid, tocopherols, citric acid,[14] limonoids,[18][19][20] sterols, and minerals.[21] A study suggests the consumption of the bioactive compounds found in grapefruit seed and pulp may help suppress the development colon cancer.[22] Another study showed the flavonoid naringin is an excellent plasma lipid lowering and plasma antioxidant active elevating flavonone.[23]

[edit] Preparations

Self-made pure GSE processed without solvents is prepared by grinding the grapefruit seed and juiceless pulp, then mixing with glycerin.[10]

Commercially available GSE sold to consumers are made from the seed, pulp, glycerin, and synthetic preservatives all blended together.[10]

[edit] Precautions

Consequential to the identification of preservatives in commercial GSE which are sold at some natural food markets, people who are sensitive to eating synthetic preservatives may exercise caution in administering GSE at any dilution to prevent an allergic reaction.

Grapefruit can have a number of interactions with certain drugs, increasing the potency of many compounds. Grapefruit has components that inhibit the production of a particular enzyme in the liver. Thus, it is this effect that increases the rate of absorption of several drugs.[24]

[edit] GSE controversy

GSE usage has been popularized by many companies within the scope of the health food industry. There are books exclusively dedicated to GSE.[3][25][26] This extract is promoted by marketers on the internet. Some health food stores continue to recommend it. Some consumers believe this extract is an effective natural preservative despite the findings of multiple scientific studies have concluded the universal antimicrobial activity is merely from contamination with synthetic antimicrobials.[7][8][10][11][12]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Morton, J. 1987. Grapefruit. p. 152–158. In: Fruits of warm climates. Julia F. Morton, Miami, FL. Forbidden Fruit Reference
  2. ^ World Wide Words: Questions & Answers: Grapefruit Abstract
  3. ^ a b Sims, Judith. Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Available in e-book format. Thomson Gale. 2001.
  4. ^ a b c Reagor L, Gusman J, McCoy L, Carino E, Heggers JP. The effectiveness of processed grapefruit-seed extract as an antibacterial agent: I. An in vitro agar assay. J Altern Complement Med. 2002 Jun;8(3):325-32. Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) Brand Test Study
  5. ^ a b c Heggers JP, Cottingham J, Gusman J, Reagor L, McCoy L, Carino E, Cox R, Zhao JG. The effectiveness of processed grapefruit-seed extract as an antibacterial agent: II. Mechanism of action and in vitro toxicity. J Altern Complement Med. 2002 Aug;8(4):521. Reagor Lana, corrected to Reagor Lee. Preservative Brand Name Test Study
  6. ^ a b c Cvetnic Z, Vladimir-Knezevic S. Antimicrobial activity of grapefruit seed and pulp ethanolic extract. Acta Pharm. 2004 Sep;54(3):243-5. Full Text Abstract
  7. ^ a b c Ganzera M, Aberham A, Stuppner H. Development and validation of an HPLC/UV/MS method for simultaneous determination of 18 preservatives in grapefruit seed extract. Institute of Pharmacy, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. J Agric Food Chem. 2006 May 31;54(11):3768-72. Abstract
  8. ^ a b c d Takeoka, G., Dao, L., Wong, R.Y., Lundin, R., Mahoney N. Identification of benzethonium chloride in commercial grapefruit seed extracts. J Agric Food Chem. 2001 49(7):3316–20. Abstract
  9. ^ Kampf G, Kramer A. Epidemiologic background of hand hygiene and evaluation of the most important agents for scrubs and rubs. Bode Chemie GmbH & Co., Scientific Affairs, Melanchthonstrasse 27, 22525 Hamburg, Germany. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2004 Oct;17(4):863-93. Abstract
  10. ^ a b c d e f g von Woedtke, T., Schlüter, B., Pflegel, P., Lindequist, U.; Jülich, W.-D. Aspects of the antimicrobial efficacy of grapefruit seed extract and its relation to preservative substances contained. Pharmazie 1999 54:452–456. Abstract
  11. ^ a b c Sakamoto, S., Sato, K., Maitani, T., Yamada, T. Analysis of components in natural food additive “grapefruit seed extract” by HPLC and LC/MS. Bull. Natl. Inst. Health Sci. 1996, 114:38–42. Abstract
  12. ^ a b c d Takeoka, G.R., Dao, L.T., Wong, R.Y., Harden L.A. Identification of benzalkonium chloride in commercial grapefruit seed extracts. J Agric Food Chem. 2005 53(19):7630–6. Abstract
  13. ^ Eleraky, N.Z., Potgieter, L.N., Kennedy, M.A. Virucidal efficacy of four new disinfectants. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2002 38(3):231–4. Abstract
  14. ^ a b Armando, C., Maythe, S., Beatriz, N. P. Antioxidant activity of grapefruit seed extract on vegetable oils. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 1998, 77:463-467. Abstract
  15. ^ Giamperi L, Fraternale D, Bucchini A, Ricci D. Antioxidant activity of Citrus paradisi seeds glyceric extract. Fitoterapia. 2004 Mar;75(2):221-4. Abstract
  16. ^ A. Drewnowski and C. Gomez-Carneors, Bitter taste, phytonutrients, and consumer: a review, Am. J. Clin. Ntr. 72(2000) 1424-1435.
  17. ^ B. Tirillini, Grapefruit: the last decade acquisitions, Fitoterapia 71(2000) 29-37.
  18. ^ R. D. Bennett, S. Hasegava and Z. Herman, Glucosides of acidic limonoids in citrus, Phytochemistry 28(1989) 2777-2781
  19. ^ H. Ohta, C. H. Fong, M. Berhow and Hesegawa, Thin-layer and high-performance liquid chromatographic analyses of limonoids and limonoid glucosides in citrus seeds, J. Chromatogr. 639(1993) 295-302
  20. ^ R. J. Braddock and C. R. Bryan, Extraction parameters and capillary electrophorisis analysis of limonin glucoside and phlorin in citrus products, J. Agric. Food Chem. 49(2001) 5982-5988.
  21. ^ L. Sh. Tushiswili, S. V. Durmishidze and K. V. Sulaberidze. Sterols of grapefruit, orange, mandarin pulps (Citrus paradisi, Citrus sinensis, Citrus unshiu), Chem. Nat. Comp. 18(1983) 445-447
  22. ^ Vanamala J, Leonardi T, Patil BS, Taddeo SS, Murphy ME, Pike LM, Chapkin RS, Lupton JR, Turner ND. Suppression of colon carcinogenesis by bioactive compounds in grapefruit. Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA. Carcinogenesis. 2006 Jun;27(6):1257-65. Epub 2005 Dec 29. Abstract
  23. ^ Gorinstein S, Leontowicz H, Leontowicz M, Krzeminski R, Gralak M, Delgado-Licon E, Martinez Ayala AL, Katrich E, Trakhtenberg S. Changes in plasma lipid and antioxidant activity in rats as a result of naringin and red grapefruit supplementation. Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel. J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Apr 20;53(8):3223-8. Abstract
  24. ^ He K; Iyer KR; Hayes RN; Sinz MW; Woolf TF; Hollenberg PF. Inactivation of cytochrome P450 3A4 by bergamottin, a component of grapefruit juice. Chem Res Toxicol. 1998 Apr;11(4):252-9. Abstract
  25. ^ Sharamon, S., Baginski, B.J. The Healing Power of Grapefruit Seed. Lotus Press, Wisconsin. 1996. ISBN 0-914955-27-6
  26. ^ Sachs, A. The Authoritative Guide to Grapefruit Seed Extract : Stay Healthy Naturally: A Natural Alternative for Treating Colds, Infections, Herpes, Candida and Many Other Ailments. LifeRhythm, Medocino, California, 1997. ISBN 0-940795-17-5

[edit] See also

Read the quackery article for an explanation as to why products like citrus seed extract persists in usage and is accepted by some consumers in spite of its lack of effectiveness.

Read the charlatan article for reasoning as why a salesperson or business would want to practice quackery or similar confidence trick under false pretences.

[edit] External links

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