Auraptene

Auraptene is a naturally occurring prenylcoumarin found primarily in citrus fruits (e.g., bitter orange and pomelo) as well as in certain plants of the family Rutaceae. The substance belongs to the group of secondary plant compounds, and it is credited with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and potentially anticancer properties. Auraptene is particularly valued as a functional component in traditional Asian and Mediterranean healing practices.

In recent years, Auraptene has increasingly moved into the focus of research, as it is not only considered a component of a healthy diet but also showed promising approaches in studies for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases – for example, in cancer, neurological disorders, and metabolic diseases.

What health benefits are attributed to Auraptene?

Studies conducted with Auraptene suggest various effects originating from the compound. However, the results of these studies should be viewed critically, as they are not readily transferable and more research is needed before definitive statements about the effects of Auraptene can be made.

  • Antioxidant cell protection: Auraptene protects cells from oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals and can thereby counteract age-related cell damage (1,2,3).
  • Anti-inflammatory effects: The compound inhibits pro-inflammatory messengers such as TNF-α and IL-6 – potentially helpful in chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis or Crohn's disease (1,4,5).
  • Cancer prevention: Studies show that Auraptene can inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells and promote apoptosis (programmed cell death) – particularly in breast, skin, and colon cancer (1,6,7).
  • Neuroprotection: In preclinical studies, Auraptene showed protective effects on nerve cells, which makes it an interesting candidate for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's research (8,9).
  • Antiviral effects: Studies suggest that Auraptene could have the potential to act as a therapeutic agent against the human coronavirus. (10).

How does Auraptene work in the body?

Auraptene presumably exerts its effects through several biochemical mechanisms. On the one hand, probably through an inhibition of inflammatory enzymes, the activation of cell-protective signaling pathways, and the modulation of cell death and the cell cycle(11).

Side effects and risks

Auraptene is generally considered safe at the usual concentrations from natural sources. With high-dose isolated forms or supplemental intake, the following aspects could be relevant:

  • Photosensitivity: Similar to other coumarins, Auraptene can increase sensitivity to light in sensitive individuals.
  • Interactions: Possible interactions with medications cannot be ruled out.
  • Insufficient data for pregnant and breastfeeding women: Intake should therefore be avoided in these cases.

Conclusion

Auraptene is a fascinating plant compound with a broad spectrum of purported health benefits – from antioxidant cell protection and anti-inflammatory effects to cancer prevention. Particularly exciting are its possible neuroprotective and antiviral properties, which could make it a candidate for future natural medicines. However, more comprehensive clinical studies are still needed for therapeutic applications.

Sources:

  1. Naseri, S., Asgarpanah, J., & Ziai, S. A. (2024). Immunomodulatory and antioxidant effect of liposomal auraptene against cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in BALB/c mice. Experimental Gerontology, 195, 112552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2024.112552
  2. Lee, M. J., Jang, Y., Zhu, J., Namgung, E., Go, D., Seo, C., Ju, X., Cui, J., Lee, Y. L., Kang, H., Kim, H., Chung, W., & Heo, J. Y. (2021). Auraptene Enhances Junction Assembly in Cerebrovascular Endothelial Cells by Promoting Resilience to Mitochondrial Stress through Activation of Antioxidant Enzymes and mtUPR. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 10(3), 475. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10030475
  3. Jamialahmadi, K., Amiri, A. H., Zahedipour, F., Faraji, F., & Karimi, G. (2022). Protective Effects of Auraptene against Free Radical-Induced Erythrocytes Damage. Journal of pharmacopuncture, 25(4), 344–353. https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2022.25.4.344
  4. Vakili, T., Iranshahi, M., Arab, H., Riahi, B., Roshan, N. M., & Karimi, G. (2017). Safety evaluation of auraptene in rats in acute and subacute toxicity studies. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP, 91, 159–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2017.10.025
  5. Yan, H., Ma, Z., Peng, S., & Deng, X. (2013). Anti-inflammatory effect of auraptene extracted from trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliate) on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Inflammation, 36(6), 1525–1532. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-013-9695-y
  6. Ebrahimi, S., Soukhtanloo, M., & Mostafavi-Pour, Z. (2023). Anti-tumor effects of auraptene through induction of apoptosis and oxidative stress in a mouse model of colorectal cancer. Tissue and Cell, 81, 102004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tice.2022.102004
  7. T Tanaka, K Kawabata, M Kakumoto, K Matsunaga, H Mori, A Murakami, W Kuki, Y Takahashi, H Yonei, K Satoh, A Hara, M Maeda, T Ota, S Odashima, K Koshimizu, H Ohigashi, Chemoprevention of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide-induced oral carcinogenesis by citrus auraptene in rats., Carcinogenesis, Volume 19, Issue 3, Mar 1998, Pages 425–431, https://doi.org/10.1093/carcin/19.3.425
  8. Furukawa, Y., Hara, R. I., Nakaya, M., Okuyama, S., Sawamoto, A., & Nakajima, M. (2019). Citrus Auraptene Induces Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in C6 Cells. International journal of molecular sciences, 21(1), 253. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21010253
  9. Igase, M., Okada, Y., Ochi, M., Igase, K., Ochi, H., Okuyama, S., Furukawa, Y., & Ohyagi, Y. (2018). Auraptene in the peels of Citrus kawachiensis (Kawachibankan) contributes to the preservation of cognitive function: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study in healthy volunteers. The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, 5(3), 197–201. https://doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2017.47
  10. Min, J. S., Jin, Y. H., & Kwon, S. (2023). Auraptene Has Antiviral Activity against Human Coronavirus OC43 in MRC-5 Cells. Nutrients, 15(13), 2960. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15132960
  11. Etemad L, Zamani M, Iranshahi M, Roohbakhsh A, The Protective Effect of Auraptene Against Oxidative Stress and Pentylenetetrazol-Induced Chemical Kindling in Mice.Iran J Pharm Res.18(3):e126175.https://doi.org/10.22037/ijpr.2019.1100747.