Florida: A new study from the University of Florida has found that orange peel can play an important role in improving cardiovascular health.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among men, women, and all races and ethnicities.
New research shows that gut bacteria use specific components linked to cardiovascular disease during digestion. In this process, these bacteria produce trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). TMAO levels may help predict future cardiovascular disease.
In this study, scientists investigated the ability of phytochemical-rich orange peel extract to reduce the production of TMAO.
The researchers tested two types of extracts: polar fractions and non-polar fractions.
Wangu Wan, one of the scientists involved in the research, explained that scientists use polar and non-polar solvents to obtain these particles.
He explains that if you look at your salad, the water or vinegar will be the polar fraction, while anything in the oil will be the non-polar fraction. The solvent used is neither water nor oil, but the polarity is the same.
The results show that the non-polar part of the shell effectively inhibits the production of harmful chemicals.
The researchers also identified a compound called feruloyl putrescine in the polar part of the shell, a compound that inhibits the enzyme responsible for TMA production.
