A Calabrò¹*, C Bagnato², A Cerchiaro³, S Chiera⁴, C Rosselli⁵, G Palaia⁵, F Iannelli⁵, S Pellicano⁵, A Pirillo⁵, E Pungitore⁵, A Molè⁶, L Puccio⁷ and C Paone⁵

¹Degree Course in Motor Sciences, University of Catanzaro, Magna Graecia Italy
²Clinical Nutrition Unit, Madonna Delle Grazie Hospital, Matera Italy
³Dietitian, former director of clinical internship Degree Course in Dietetics, University of Catanzaro Magna Graecia Italy
⁴Degree Course in Dietetics University of Catanzaro Magna Graecia Italy
⁵Dietitian, Freelance, Italy
⁶Medical Director of the Medical Directorate of the Presidium University Hospital “Dulbecco”, Catanzaro, Italy
⁷Director S.O.C. Endocrine Diseases of Turnover and Nutrition University Hospital “Dulbecco”, Catanzaro, Italy

*Corresponding Author: A Calabrò, Degree Course in Motor Sciences University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia” Italy.

Received: September 01, 2023; Published: September 20, 2023

Abstract

Background: Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is a plant belonging to the Rutaceae family, genus "Citrus". The cultivation of this plant is concentrated almost exclusively in a narrow geographical area of Calabria (Italy), in particular, in the Reggio Calabria area. Bergamot has been heavily used in the cosmetic industry but, in recent years, it is also embracing the medical branch due to its properties and effects, not only cholesterol-lowering but also anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Like most citrus fruits, Bergamot is also rich in flavonoids (phenolic derivatives with antioxidant capacity) present in the form of more polar glycosidic derivatives, such as neoeriocitrin, naringin and neoesperidin. It is now known how, bergamot extracts could represent the scientific basis for the development of new and alternative strategies, in order to improve the state of health and mitigate inflammatory conditions.

Objectives: The goal of our study was to analyze, through the scientific literature, the effects and anti-inflammatory and / or antioxidant properties of Bergamot on humans, particularly in the elderly.

Methods:We have drawn up a flow chart and compared the studies in the literature through the use of Pubmed, on the anti-inflammatory effects of Bergamot on humans. In the present study, only 2 scientific studies partially met our objectives.

Results: Despite the many scientific articles on Bergamot, to date there are still few those relating to the anti-inflammatory and/or antioxidant effects of Bergamot on humans. We excluded studies performed on mouse models, or in vitro, while others were excluded as they were not full-text.

Conclusions: An adequate and balanced diet, especially in the elderly, is an important factor of longevity and health. Inflammatory diseases represent an important risk factor for various chronic diseases, including those typical of old age. Often in the geriatric age there are greater comorbidities that are associated with a progressive loss of lean mass and an increase in fat mass, due to the presence of an inflammatory state. Furthermore, aging could also cause a dysregulation of the immune system and an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). All this translates into greater susceptibility to disease and reduced healing capacity in the elderly, in fact, we are talking about the frailty of the elderly. Several classes of drugs, including corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and biologics are used to treat inflammatory disorders. However, they have several side effects, and biological ones are often expensive. To limit the side effects of these, in recent years, attention has shifted to the use of nutraceuticals in the treatment of inflammation. Of the many nutraceuticals we have focused our attention on Bergamot, as the polyphenols contained exert an anti-inflammatory activity both through antioxidant effects and by modulating the fundamental pro-inflammatory genes.

Keywords: Bergamot; Bergamot and Inflammation; Inflammation in Older Adults; Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Bergamot

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Citation

Citation: A Calabrò., et al. “Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Bergamot on the Elderly: A Literature Review".Acta Scientific Nutritional Health 7.10 (2023): 48-55.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2023 A Calabrò., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.