Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)

Bergamot is a herbal supplement that has been called a “natural statin” because of its cholesterol-lowering properties, but it can help with many health conditions, from metabolic syndrome to stress.

- Dr Karen Bridgman

Citrus bergamia, the bergamot orange, is in the citrus family, probably originally bred as a hybrid of a lemon and a bitter orange tree. It blossoms in winter and is very fragrant. Citrus bergamia has also been classified as Citrus aurantium sub species bergamia.

The fruit is edible, although sour and very bitter. The essence extracted from the aromatic skin of this fruit provides the distinctive flavour of Earl Grey tea. This citrus bergamot is unrelated to the herbs known as bergamot — the Monarda herbs in the mint family — but it has a similar aroma.

Citrus bergamot is grown in southern Italy, France and southern Turkey, but is not used for its juice as it is in Mauritius. In these areas, it's grown mainly for its oil, which is used as a fragrance and for its medicinal properties.

Active ingredients

Many parts of bergamot have been shown to be clinically effective, including the juice, oil and peel. The active ingredients in bergamot juice include neoeriocitrin, naringenin and hesperetin. Early research on melitidin and brutieridin, which exists only in citrus bergamot, shows promise for cholesterol-reducing activities, albeit a naturally sourced version. The oil contains furocoumarins such as bergamottin.

Therapeutic uses