Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Citrus Bergamot Extracts

Citrus bergamot, a hybrid citrus fruit native to southern Italy, is rich in flavonoids and other polyphenolic compounds that exert pronounced anti-inflammatory effects. Extracts from bergamot peel, juice and byproducts have been shown to attenuate production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6, interleukin-1β and tumour necrosis factor-α in both cell-based and animal models. The mechanisms underpinning these effects include inhibition of the NF-κB signalling pathway, modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and activation of sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) deacetylase activity. In addition to direct anti-inflammatory actions, bergamot polyphenols display antioxidant properties that mitigate oxidative stress, a key driver of chronic inflammation. Preclinical studies further demonstrate that bergamot extracts can promote autophagic processes and modulate immune-cell differentiation, while emerging work on fruit-waste valorisation highlights sustainable sources of bioactive fractions. Collectively, these findings underscore the potential of bergamot preparations as nutraceutical adjuvants or complementary agents in the management of inflammatory disorders, with implications for metabolic, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular health.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have explored novel cellular mechanisms by which bergamot extracts counteract inflammation. A 2024 investigation demonstrated that a flavonoid-rich bergamot juice extract induces differentiation of human monocytic leukaemia THP-1 cells, promoting morphological changes, upregulation of differentiation markers and activation of autophagy-associated proteins. Phosphorylation of MAPKs (JNK, ERK and p38) was implicated in both the pro-differentiating and growth-inhibitory effects, suggesting a link between differentiation therapy and anti-inflammatory action. An earlier report assessed the impact of bergamot juice extract on monocyte activation by β-amyloid fibrils, a model for neuroinflammation. The extract attenuated secretion of IL-6 and IL-1β, reduced AP-1 DNA binding and blunted ERK and JNK phosphorylation, indicating that bergamot flavonoids may mitigate microglial-mediated inflammatory processes relevant to neurodegenerative disease.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Citrus Bergamot Extracts publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in anti-inflammatory properties of citrus bergamot extracts across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Flavonoids: A class of polyphenolic plant compounds, including flavanones and flavones, known for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Cytokines: Small proteins, such as IL-6 and TNF-α, secreted by immune cells that regulate inflammation and immune responses.

NF-κB: A transcription factor that governs expression of pro-inflammatory genes; its inhibition reduces cytokine production.

MAPKs: Mitogen-activated protein kinases (e.g. ERK, JNK, p38) that transmit cellular stress signals and modulate inflammatory pathways.

SIRT1: A NAD⁺-dependent deacetylase that can suppress inflammatory signalling by deacetylating NF-κB and other substrates.

Autophagy: A conserved process of intracellular degradation that can influence cell survival, differentiation and inflammatory regulation.

References

1. Bergamot Byproducts: A Sustainable Source to Counteract Inflammation. Nutrients (2024).
2. Biological effects of bergamot and its potential therapeutic use as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer agent. Pharmaceutical Biology (2023).
3. The pro-differentiating capability of a flavonoid-rich extract of Citrus bergamia juice prompts autophagic death in THP-1 cells. Scientific Reports (2024).
4. Citrus bergamia Juice Extract Attenuates β-Amyloid-Induced Pro-Inflammatory Activation of THP-1 Cells Through MAPK and AP-1 Pathways. Scientific Reports (2016).
5. Flavonoid Fraction of Bergamot Juice Reduces LPS-Induced Inflammatory Response through SIRT1-Mediated NF-κB Inhibition in THP-1 Monocytes. PLOS ONE (2014).
6. Flavonoid Fraction of Orange and Bergamot Juices Protect Human Lung Epithelial Cells from Hydrogen Peroxide‐Induced Oxidative Stress. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2015).