The health benefits of
Limonene September 2008
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What is limonene?

D-limonene is one of the most common terpenes in nature. It
is found in  several citrus oils such as orange, lemon,
mandarin, lime, and grapefruit.

What is limonene used for?
D-limonene is listed in the Code of Federal Regulations as
generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for a flavoring agent
and can be found in common food items such as fruit juices,
soft drinks, baked goods, ice cream, and pudding.

Is limonene safe? What are its side effects or adverse
effects?
D-limonene is considered to have fairly low toxicity. It has
been tested for carcinogenicity in mice and rats. Although
initial results showed d-limonene increased the incidence of
renal tubular tumors in male rats, female rats and mice in
both genders showed no evidence of any tumor.

Whysner J, Williams GM. said "d-Limonene produces
tumors only in the kidneys of male rats in association with
hyaline-droplet nephropathy, which is due to the
accumulation of the rat-specific, low molecular weight protein
alpha(2u)-globulin in the P2 segment cells of renal proximal
tubules. Human urine contains no alpha(2u)-globulin and,
compared with the male rat, much less protein and almost no
low molecular weight protein." [2]

What are the potential health benefits of Limonene?
Being a solvent of cholesterol, d-limonene has been used
clinically to dissolve cholesterol-containing gallstones.
Because of its gastric acid neutralizing effect and its support
of normal peristalsis, it has also been used for relief of
heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). D-limonene
has well-established chemopreventive activity against many
types of cancer.

Evidence from a phase I clinical trial demonstrated a partial
response in a patient with breast cancer and stable disease
for more than six months in three patients with colorectal
cancer.

SOURCE Sun J. D-Limonene: safety and clinical applications. Altern Med
Rev. 2007 Sep;12(3):259-64

[2] Whysner J, Williams GM. d-limonene mechanistic data and risk
assessment: absolute species-specific cytotoxicity, enhanced cell
proliferation, and tumor promotion. Pharmacol Ther. 1996;71(1-2):127-36

This article can not be used as medical advice. Please, consult with your
medical doctor for any question or before taking any drug products and
supplements. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED zhion 2008