Context: Bergamot, mainly produced in the Ionian coastal areas of Southern Italy (Calabria), has beenused since 1700 for its balsamic and medicinal properties. Phytochemical profiling has confirmed thatbergamot juices are rich in flavonoids, including flavone and flavanone glycosides which are responsiblefor its beneficial effects.Objective: Recently, it was shown that the combination of natural compounds with conventional treatmentsimproves the efficacy of anticancer therapies. Natural compounds with anticancer properties attackcancerous cells without being toxic to healthy cells. Bergamot can induce cytotoxic and apoptotic effectsand prevent cell proliferation in various cancer cells.Methods: In this review, the antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects ofbergamot are described. Information was compiled from databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, andGoogle Scholar using the key words ‘bergamot’ accompanied by ‘inflammation’ and, ‘cancer’ for datapublished from 2015–2021.Results: In vitro and in vivo studies provided evidence that different forms of bergamot (extract, juice,essential oil, and polyphenolic fraction) can affect several mechanisms that lead to anti-proliferative andpro-apoptotic effects that decrease cell growth, as well as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.Conclusions: Considering the effects of bergamot and its new formulations, we affirm the importance ofits rational use in humans and illustrate how bergamot can be utilized in clinical applications. Numerousstudies evaluated the effect of new bergamot formulations that can affect the absorption and, therefore,the final effects by altering the therapeutic profile of bergamot and enhancing the scientific knowledgeof bergamot.
Biological effects of bergamot and its potential therapeutic use as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer drug
Fierabracci A;
2023-01-01
Abstract
Context: Bergamot, mainly produced in the Ionian coastal areas of Southern Italy (Calabria), has beenused since 1700 for its balsamic and medicinal properties. Phytochemical profiling has confirmed thatbergamot juices are rich in flavonoids, including flavone and flavanone glycosides which are responsiblefor its beneficial effects.Objective: Recently, it was shown that the combination of natural compounds with conventional treatmentsimproves the efficacy of anticancer therapies. Natural compounds with anticancer properties attackcancerous cells without being toxic to healthy cells. Bergamot can induce cytotoxic and apoptotic effectsand prevent cell proliferation in various cancer cells.Methods: In this review, the antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects ofbergamot are described. Information was compiled from databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, andGoogle Scholar using the key words ‘bergamot’ accompanied by ‘inflammation’ and, ‘cancer’ for datapublished from 2015–2021.Results: In vitro and in vivo studies provided evidence that different forms of bergamot (extract, juice,essential oil, and polyphenolic fraction) can affect several mechanisms that lead to anti-proliferative andpro-apoptotic effects that decrease cell growth, as well as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.Conclusions: Considering the effects of bergamot and its new formulations, we affirm the importance ofits rational use in humans and illustrate how bergamot can be utilized in clinical applications. Numerousstudies evaluated the effect of new bergamot formulations that can affect the absorption and, therefore,the final effects by altering the therapeutic profile of bergamot and enhancing the scientific knowledgeof bergamot.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
