Certain animal and in vitro studies have identified potential additional benefits of hesperidin, but these findings await confirmation through clinical research.
One study on rats found that rikkunshito (RKT), a traditional Japanese medicine containing hesperidin and other compounds, effectively countered chemotherapy-induced anorexia by increasing appetite. It is hypothesized that RKT inhibits the decrease in the expression of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a) receptor caused by cisplatin (a compound commonly used in chemotherapy) by acting as a 5-HT2B/2C serotonin receptor antagonist, therefore increasing the signal transduction of ghrelin (an appetite-stimulating hormone which binds to the GHS-R1a receptor).[1]
Low doses of hesperidin (25 mg/kg in rats) demonstrated notable protection against prolonged toxicity when administered alongside nicotine in rat studies.[2][3]
Another animal study found that a 5-week regimen of hesperidin reduced colonic tumor formation by 60%, induced by an injection of a carcinogenic toxin.[4]
In mice, hesperidin also displayed anti-asthmatic and antiallergic properties by reducing the airways’ responsiveness to an antigen. The antiallergic effect was associated with reduced infiltration of immune cells (leukocytes and macrophages) into lung tissue.[5]
Finally, hesperidin exhibited various neuroprotective effects in animal studies at standard oral doses. These effects appear to rely on suppressing errant nitric oxide signaling, thereby activating an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory defense.[6]
References
- ^Yakabi K, Kurosawa S, Tamai M, Yuzurihara M, Nahata M, Ohno S, Ro S, Kato S, Aoyama T, Sakurada T, Takabayashi H, Hattori TRikkunshito and 5-HT2C receptor antagonist improve cisplatin-induced anorexia via hypothalamic ghrelin interaction.Regul Pept.(2010-Apr-09)
- ^Balakrishnan A, Menon VPEffect of hesperidin on matrix metalloproteinases and antioxidant status during nicotine-induced toxicity.Toxicology.(2007-Sep-05)
- ^Balakrishnan A, Menon VPEffect of hesperidin on nicotine toxicity and histopathological studies.Toxicol Mech Methods.(2007)
- ^Tanaka T, Makita H, Kawabata K, Mori H, Kakumoto M, Satoh K, Hara A, Sumida T, Tanaka T, Ogawa HChemoprevention of azoxymethane-induced rat colon carcinogenesis by the naturally occurring flavonoids, diosmin and hesperidin.Carcinogenesis.(1997-May)
- ^Wei D, Ci X, Chu X, Wei M, Hua S, Deng XHesperidin suppresses ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation in a mouse allergic asthma model.Inflammation.(2012-Feb)
- ^Kamisli S, Ciftci O, Kaya K, Cetin A, Kamisli O, Ozcan CHesperidin protects brain and sciatic nerve tissues against cisplatin-induced oxidative, histological and electromyographical side effects in rats.Toxicol Ind Health.(2015-Sep)