A B S T R A C T
The consumption of Citrus fruits and juices has been widely investigated for its possible role in the
prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. These beneficial effects are mainly attributed to
flavanones, the typical polyphenols of Citrus species. Major flavanones in plant species include
hesperetin, naringenin, eriodictyol, isosakuranetin and their respective glycosides. Hesperetin and its
derivatives are characteristic flavanones of sweet orange, tangelo, lemon and lime, while naringenin and
its derivatives are those of grapefruit and sour orange. Advances in analytical techniques like ultra high
performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with mass spectrometry has facilitated (a) the
estimation of flavanone contents in other plant species and in humans after ingestion and (b) the
determination of flavanone metabolites more rapidly and with greater efficiency. The present review
will summarize the current knowledge about flavanones from their occurrence in plants to the
bioactivity of their metabolites in humans.