Grapefruit contains naringin, bergamottin, and dihydroxybergamottin, which inhibit the cytochrome P450 isoform CYP3A4 in the intestine.
Botanically, the grapefruit was not distinguished from the pomelo until the 1830s, when it was given the name Citrus paradisi.
Currently, the grapefruit is claimed by some as one of the "Seven Wonders of Barbados" (Bourne 1996).
The name grapefruit first appeared in English in a work by botanist John Lunan, Hortus Jamaicanensis (1814) (Bender and Bender 2005; Quinion 2007).
Grapefruit peel oil is used in aromatherapy and it is historically known for its aromatic scent (Woodward 1991).
Para-1-menthene-8-thiol, a sulfur-containing terpene, is one of the substances that has a strong influence on the taste and odor of grapefruit, compared with other citrus fruits (Buettner and Schieberle 1999).
The effect of grapefruit juice with regard to drug absorption was originally discovered in 1989.
Grapefruit comes in many varieties, determinable by color, which is caused by the pigmentation of the fruit in respect of both its state of ripeness and genetic bent (GMF 2007).
The grapefruit appears either to have arisen from the pomelo (shaddock or Chinese grapefruit, Citrus maxima) as a genetic mutation or as a hybrid between pomelo and sweet orange (Citrus sinensis in many taxonomies).
Grapefruit belongs to the Citrus genus, a taxa of flowering plants in the family Rutaceae.
Grapefruit is an excellent source of many nutrients and phytochemicals for a healthy diet.
Grapefruit forms a core part of the "grapefruit diet," the theory being that the fruit's low glycemic index is able to help the body's metabolism burn fat (WMUR 2003).
The grapefruit was known as the shaddock or shattuck until the 1800s.
The grapefruit is believed to have arisen from the pomelo or shaddock (Citrus grandis) or as a hybrid between pomelo and sweet orange (Bender and Bender 2005).
The study points to the inhibition of CYP3A4 enzyme by grapefruit, which metabolizes estrogen (Monroe et al.
That is, there is only one "superspecies," which includes lemons, limes, grapefruit, pomelos, tangerines, and oranges.
Studies have shown grapefruit helps lower cholesterol (GMF 2007; Platt 2000), and there is evidence that the seeds have low levels of antioxidant properties (Armando et al.
Grapefruit can have a number of interactions with drugs, often increasing the effective potency of compounds.
Grapefruit is a good source of vitamin C (GMF 2007; Fellers et al.
Grapefruit seed extract has been claimed to be a strong antimicrobial with proven activity against bacteria and fungi.
The fruit and flowers of the grapefruit tree provide for the species' individual purpose of reproduction, while at the same time providing a value for the whole, especially humans.