Bergamot is an evergreen tree growing to 30 ft (10 m) having pointed oval leaves, scented white flowers, and fruit with aromatic peel, native to tropical Asia, but cultivated in sub-tropical regions, especially in southern Italy.
• Bergamot Essential Oil is obtained/extracted from Bergamot rind (peel of the fruits of the Citrus bergamia), where Bergamot tree (a Citrus Fruit tree is a cross between a Lemon tree and an Orange tree).
• The extract of the Bergamot (also Bergamot Essential Oil) is used in flavouring in Earl Grey tea.
Bergamot is an evergreen Citrus Fruit tree which is a cross breed between a Lemon tree and an Orange tree, growing to 30 ft (10 m) having pointed oval leaves, scented white flowers, and Fruit with aromatic peel, native to tropical Asia, but cultivated in sub-tropical regions, especially in southern Italy.
Bergamot is a Pear-shaped Citrus Fruit grown primarily in Calabria, Italy, but also in Argentina, Brazil, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, and parts of Asia.
• The rind of the green (or yellow) Fruit is pressed for oil that is used for medicinal or dietary purposes. Its Essential Oil is obtained/extracted from Bergamot rind.
• Some believe that its a hybrid of Lemon and Bitter Orange.
• The word Bergamot is derived from a Turkish word that means prince’s Pear.
History
Mechanism of Action of Phytochemicals from the Bergamot
Inhibiting oxidation of LDL particles
• Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein particles along with increased inflammatory events, has been associated with atherosclerosis that ultimately alters cardiovascular blood flow. Several constituents including naringin, neoeriocitrin, and Rutin from the Bergamot have been reported to lower the oxidation of LDL particles.
• Naringin significantly reduced fatty streak formation and macrophage infiltration in endothelial cells. Naringin-inhibited-Cholesterol also induced elevation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in endothelial cells.
• Naringin is found to be hepatoprotective while lovastatin was not found to be hepatoprotective.
• Reactive oxygen species (ROS) including superoxide (O2−), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and hydroxyl radicals (OH−) can directly damage cells in the Cardiovascular System and induce proinflammatory events.
• Consecutive administration of Bergamot oil for 14 days can antagonize the effects of smooth muscle cell proliferation and neointima formation in carotid artery following angioplasty.
• Bergamot juice (1 mL) renal protective properties prevent the development of renal damage from hyperCholesterolemia and has been found to significantly decrease malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to hyperLipidemic controls (4.10 ± 0.10 nmol/mg Protein and 4.78 ± 0.15 nmol/mg Protein, respectively).
• Oxidized LDL leads to vasoconstriction mediated by the inflammatory thromboxane A2.
HypoLipidemic properties of Bergamot Polyphenols
• HMG-CoA reductase is the rate controlling enzyme in the mevalonate pathway that is responsible for Cholesterol synthesis.
• Statins (class of compounds) are potent inhibitors of HMG-CoA by competitively binding the active site where HMG binds, thus making HMG-CoA a valuable target for reducing Cholesterol levels.
• Bergamot has two (2) molecules (neoHesperidin and naringin), which share structural similarity to statins.
• A second mechanism is that Bergamot Polyphenols activate adenosine monophosphate-activated Protein kinase (AMPK).
• Activation of AMPK by small molecules improves glucose homeostasis, Lipid profiles, blood pressure and insulin resistance and is one of the proposed mechanisms of metformin.
• Naringin is found to promote phosphorylation of AMPK in The Liver and HepG2 cells that are exposed to naringin.
• Naringin significantly decrease triglycerides, LDL and total Cholesterol. Increasing the expression of LDL receptor is beneficial for promoting the endocytosis of Cholesterol rich LDL.
• Bergamot Polyphenol fraction is capable of disrupting the enzyme pCEH (Pancreatic Cholesterol ester hydrolase) Cholesterol synthesis by catalyzing the hydrolysis of sterol esters into sterols and fatty acids, where the disruption of this reaction can significantly improve the serum Lipid profile in hyperLipidemic patients.
Additional Information
Bergamot Essential Oil
Bergamot oil is extracted from extracted from the rinds of Citrus Fruit (Citrus bergamia).
Properties:
• Deodorant,
• Vulnerary,
• Vermifuge,
• Anti-Biotic,
• Anti-septic,
• Anti-Spasmodic,
• Sedative,
• Analgesic,
• Anti-depressant,
• Disinfectant,
• Febrifuge,
• Cicatrisant,
• Digestive,Health Benefits:
• Removes body odour,
• Gives relief from spasm,
• Suppresses pain,
• Brings hope and fights Depression,
• Heals cuts and scars,
• Promotes digestion,
Bergamot Essential Oil is obtained/extracted from Bergamot rind, where Bergamot tree (a Citrus Fruit tree) is a cross between a Lemon tree and an Orange tree.
How to Make Bergamot tea
• Tea bags should be steeped for 3-5 minutes in hot Water or about 190-209 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to use Essential Oils:
1) Diffuse
• Put 3-4 drops with 1/2 cup of Water and turn it on to run in the rooms you are spending time in.
• Use with other Essential Oils.
• Only use with Essential Oil diffuser (no warmers or humidifiers).2) Inhale
• Sniff directly from bottle.
• Rub one (1) between hands, cover over mouth/nose and breathe in.
• Spray onto furniture, clothes, or carpeting.3) Ingest
• Drink in Water, tea, or take in Vegetable capsules.
• Drop under the Tongue.
• Read directions for amounts.4) Topical
• Apply on location neat or diluted (depends on oil or specific use).
• Apply to bottom of the feet as a safe access point.
• May use reflex points.
• Combine with carrier oils such as Coconut Oil.
• Bergamot contain:
• A volatile oil (including linalyl acetate [30–60%], limonene [26–42%], and linalool [11–22%]),
• Bergapten,
• A diterpene.
• It also contain brutieridin, melitidin and Polyphenolic compounds that make it a distinctive Citrus Fruit.
• Bergamot Essential Oil contain:
• Limonene,
• Beta bisabolene,
• Alpha-pinene,
• Nerol,
• Alpha bergaptene,
• Geraniol and geraniol acetate,
• Alpha-terPineol,
• Linalool,
• Linalyl acetate,
• Neryl acetate,
• Myrcene.
• Bergamot Phytochemical constituents contain:
• Flavonoids (neoeriocitrin, naringin and neoHesperidin),
• C-glucoside Flavonoids (apigenin 6,8-di-C-glucoside, diometin 6,8-di-C-glucoside, lucenin‐2, vicenin‐2, stellarin‐2, lucenin‐2‐40‐methyl ether, scoparin, and orientin 40‐methyl ether),
• Flavone O‐Glycosides (include brutieridin, melitidin, rhoifolin 40‐O‐glucoside, chrysoeriol 7‐O‐neohesperidoside‐40‐O‐glucoside, diosmin, rhoifolin, chrysoeriol 7‐O‐neohesperidoside, nariRutin, and neodiosmin),
• Volatile compounds,
• The principal constituents of Bergamot Orange oil are:
• Linalol for the fragrant scent
• Linalyl acetate for the pleasant odour
• Sesquiterpenes for antibacterial, antiseptic or Anti-Inflammatory properties and for its calming effect
• Terpenes shape the properties of the pleasant odor and taste
• FuroCoumarins used as treatment for pigment loss in Skin
• Bergapten for the treatment of pigment loss in Skin
• Alkanes for lubrication
• Alcohols
Precaution:
* Do not internally take Bergamot Essential Oil.
* Its Essential Oil must be protected from sunlight and should always be stored in dark bottles in dark places as bergapten (one of its components) becomes Poisonous if exposed to sunlight.
* Its Essential Oil exposure to sunlight should even be avoided after it is applied to the Skin, at least until it gets absorbed into the Skin.
Health Benefits of Bergamot & Bergamot Essential Oil
Cardiovascular System
• Citrus Bergamot Essential Oil lowers low density lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol, but also increases high density lipoprotein (HDL) in the body and works as effectively as Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs.
Note:
* Bergamot Essential Oil does not deplete CoQ10 stores as opposed to most statin drugs (such as Lipitor and Zocor).
* Most statin drugs have many adverse side effects, as although they lower/reduce Cholesterol in the body by blocking HMG-CoA reductase (an anti-oxidant responsible for the generation of Energy in the cells and the enzyme used in the synthesis of coenzyme Q10 [CoQ10]), they deplete Q10 levels in the body thus draining the body’s anti-oxidant reserves.
* Due to these harmful side effects, statin drugs manufacturers are required to include warning about their drugs to the customers.
* Statin drugs are related to health problems (such as memory loss, Liver toxicity, muscle weakness, confusion, type 2 Diabetes, fatigue, exercise soreness, Heart Failure, muscle soreness), and death.
Foods & Cardiovascular System
Circulatory System
• Citrus Bergamot improve arterial health by reducing the LDL Cholesterol concentration in the body, and its Bergamot Essential Oil contains active anti-oxidant Polyphenols (bruteridine and melitidine) that protects the body tissues and vascular endothelium against free radical damage.
• The presence of healthy endothelium is critical for the proper vasoconstriction thus blood pressure, blood clotting, the formation of new blood vessels and curbing inflammations.
• Its supplement is rich in Polyphenols, thus important in suppressing inflammation, improving arterial responsiveness and inhibiting plaque formation.
• Bergamot Essential Oil contain components (such as alpha-pinene and limonene) which are anti-depressant and stimulating in nature, thus helpful in improving blood circulation.
Foods & Circulatory System
Detoxification
• Bergamot Essential Oil perspiration effect, helps the body to reduce any foreign toxins (toxicity) from glands and pores which can result in a variety of Skin conditions.
Foods & Detoxification
Diabetes
• Bergamot Essential Oil has a regulatory effect on insulin production by the pancreatic cells and can help control blood sugar levels which is useful for people with Diabetes.
• It contain Polyphenolic compounds (such as brutieridin and melitidin) that lowers high Cholesterol level.
Foods & Diabetes
Digestive System
• It treats the Digestive System problems.
• Bergamot Essential Oil also speeds up the Digestive process and reduces Strain to the intestinal tract by synchronizing and regulating the peristaltic motion of The Intestine, thus reducing Constipation, regulating bowel movements and preventing gastro-intestinal complications (such as Colorectal Cancer).
Foods & Digestive System
Immune System
• Bergamot oil shows excellent ability to Fight against a lot of diseases (such as meningitis, endocarditis, bacteremia, and Urinary Tract System Infections), gives positive effects in Fighting against Enterococcus species (Enterococcus faecium and enterococcus faecalis bacteria, found to be resistant to other Anti-Biotics such as vancomycin).
Foods & Immune System
Infections
• Bergamot is antiseptic, Anti-Microbial, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, thus can be used to clear up Skin Infections, fungal Infections and to clean Wounds.
• Its rich in anti-oxidants which is known to help in eliminating free radicals in the body that lead to bacterial effects (such as cold sores, chickenpox, Shingles, herpes and Mouth Ulcers) and speeds up healing. To experience these healing effects, apply Bergamot Essential Oil on the affected area until it heals.
• Bergamot oil has potent anti-fungal properties which can help the Skin to Fight against fungal Infections resulting from candida Strain fungus.
• Bergamot Essential Oil has Anti-Biotic and disinfectant properties in nature, which inhibit the growth of germs, virus, and fungi, and also effectively prohibit (or treats) Infections (such as in the colon, intestines, Urinary Tract System, and kidneys).
• It’s also an excellent deodorant (used in room fresheners and sprays) inhibiting the growth of germs causing body odour.
• It Fights viral, bacterial and protozoa Infections that cause Fever, including Influenza(virus), Malaria (protozoa), and typhoid (typhus bacteria).
• Its a good febrifuge (a substance that reduces Fever and lowers body temperature).
• Its febrifuge action helps reduce body temperature, stimulates the metabolic system and gland secretions, thus resulting in additional secretion (perspiration or Sweat) from the eccrine glands (Sweat glands) and sebaceous (sebum) glands.
• Its capable of providing protection against Tetanus (a dangerous nerve ailment caused by the toxin of clostridium tetani [a common bacterium] which forms bacterial spores in soil/dust and enters the body through Wounds).
It has disinfectant and antiseptic properties inhibitory/destructive to bacterium that lead to Infections (such as clostridium tetani) which penetrates the Skin and produce a toxin that enters the bloodstream.
Foods & Infections
Metabolism
• Bergamot Essential Oil is a very good aid in digestion as it activates, stimulates and increases hormonal secretions of the Digestive juices, enzymes, insulin and bile, thus helpful in maintaining proper metabolic rates.
• It also aids in the digestion, proper absorption of nutrients, assimilation and decomposition of sugar, and the lowering of blood sugar.
• Bergamot is an effective metabolic syndrome treatment, where it improves different aspects of the condition. It has positive effects in lowering cardiovascular risk factors and initiates AMP-activated Protein kinase (AMPK).
• AMPK is the body’s central regulator of Energy thus helps to improve glucose and fatty acids Metabolism.
• Additionally, activating AMPK improves cells’ glucose absorption, improves insulin sensitivity, stimulates burning down of free fatty acids thus weight control, and suppresses The Liver‘s ability to synthesize glucose.
Foods & Metabolism
Musculoskeletal System
• Bergamot can be used to relieve tension, relax muscle spasms and improve digestion, though little used in herbal medicine.
• It has analgesic effects and its Essential Oil contains many powerful Phytochemicals with Anti-Inflammatory and analgesic actions.
• It contains approximately limonene (40), linalyl acetate (28), linalool (8) and small amounts of alpha-pinene all of which have Anti-Inflammatory effects.
• Limonene in particular has been the focus of many studies into pain. It inhibits nociception induced by oxidative Stress (European Journal of Pain).
• Nociception triggers a variety of physiological and behavioural responses and usually results in a subjective experience of pain in sentient beings.
• Its especially useful in managing Arthritis symptoms and pain as it suppresses inflammation, minimizes oxidative Stress, provides pain relief and manages Anxiety and Stress.
• It relieves pain, reduces Fever, and breaks up chest Congestion.
• Bergamot Essential Oil stimulates the secretion of certain Hormones which lessen the sensitivity of nerves to pain, thus reduces pain in the body and very effective in case of Headaches, Sprains, muscle aches.
Foods & Musculoskeletal System
Oral & Dental
• Bergamot Essential Oil can work as an excellent mouthwash as it Anti-Microbial qualities impedes bacterial growth in the mouth, thus preventing the mouth from Bad Breath and providing freshness without irritation on the Gums.
• Add 2-3 drops of Bergamot Essential Oil to the toothpaste, or gargle small quantity of it diluted in warm Water to prevents cavities and reduces tooth pain.
Foods & Dental
Reproductive Health
• Bergamot Essential Oil has a regulatory effect on the endocrine glands (responsible for producing several Hormones including reproduction Hormones).
• Its regular use, reduces hormonal problems in women mainly associated with Menopause and menstruation.
Foods & Reproductive Health
Respiratory System
• Bergamot Essential Oil is important for people with chronic Coughing, Respiratory conditions or Asthma, as it relaxes nerves and muscles, thus giving quick relief from cramps, convulsions, and painful muscle contractions.
Foods & Respiratory System
Skin Health
• Bergamot also has strong Astringent properties that can help to reduce Acne scars, Skin blemishes and to lighten dark spots.
• Adding Bergamot oil to your moisturiser will leave Skin feeling fresher, tighter and brighter.
• Its oil may also be used topically (on the Skin) to protect the body against lice, relieve Psoriasis, and manage the apPearance of vitiligo.
• It is applicable for the treatment of Skin diseases.
• Bergamot Essential Oil acts as a cicatrizant (helps heal scars and other marks on the Skin) and can help speed up the healing process of Wounds.
• Its disinfectant and Anti-Biotic properties makes it a good antiseptic agent, capable of promoting fast healing of Skin conditions (such as Wounds, Skin cracks, heels cracks, ulcers, Eczema, and itching), boosting the Immune System and protecting it from Infections.
• It also protects Wounds from becoming septic and inhibits the formation of new ones or developing into deadly Tetanus.
Foods & Skin Health
The Brain & Nervous System
• Bergamot Essential Oil contain Flavonoids which have Sedative effect (and very good relaxants), soothing the nerves, reducing nervous tension, Anxiety, and Stress associated ailments (such as High Blood Pressure, Insomnia, and Depression).
• Its Flavonoids also stimulate the activity of Hormones (such as dopamine and serotonin), which induce feelings of relaxation and sedation.
• It improves the mood.
• Bergamot supplements help to relieve Depression and using Bergamot oil in aromatherapy preparations helps to relieve Stress and Anxiety levels in patients before surgery.
• Its Essential Oil is effective as an anti-depressant, known to promote cheerfulness and to stimulate Energy by boosting blood circulation. Its Essential Oil fresh and uplifting scent cannot fail to boost one’s mood.
• Bergamot is capable of lowering cortisol (the Stress Hormone) levels and effective in reducing Anxiety (as diazepam) by exhibiting anxiolytic-like behaviours and attenuating HPA axis activity by reducing the corticosterone response to Stress.
Foods & Nervous System
Weight Management
• Bergamot can also aid in healthy weight loss and show significant weight reduction.
• It contains the Phytochemical naringin, which acts by increasing the action of Liver Proteins that can reduce fat accumulation in the body, thus helping in weight reduction.
• Obese persons tend to be more susceptible to Arthritis as excessive fat tissue increases inflammation in the body.
Foods & Weight Management
