Mandarin essential oil – the citrus essence of health

Citrus essential oils are among the most effective ways to improve your mood and boost your energy levels. One such oil is tangerine, a unique fruit that combines the health-promoting properties of mandarins and grapefruit. Its sweet flavour, without excessive tartness, makes tangerine an ideal addition to dishes and juices, as well as an interesting source of health-promoting essential oils. What should you know about Tangerine essential oil, and how should you use it?

Tangerine – what is it?

The tangelo, or tangerine, is a fruit belonging to the citrus family. Biologically speaking, it is an unusual hybrid of mandarin and grapefruit, extremely rich in vitamin C and natural flavonoids that are beneficial for many ailments.

For the hybridisation of the fruit in the 1930s the Dancy variety of mandarin (Citrus reticulata) and the Bowen variety of grapefruit (Citrus paradox) were used. Since its inception, the tangerine has enjoyed immense popularity, not least for its balanced sweet flavour and ease of juicing. It is therefore no surprise, that the fruit has also found its use in the production of essential oils, boasting a wide range of health benefits derived directly from the mandarin and grapefruit.

Tangerines and mandarins – what are the differences?

Technically speaking, the tangerine is more closely related to the mandarin, than to the grapefruit itself, although it possesses many properties typical of grapefruit. For this reason,, it is worth considering the differences between a mandarin and a tangerine.

• The mandarin – – has a sweet, and slightly tart, flavour, as well as delicate flesh. It has a thin skin, and its shape (, for example that of a clementine), is relatively regular, resembling a slightly flattened ball;
• Tangerine – sweeter than a mandarin, with no noticeable sourness, but with a bitter and slightly pungent aroma typical of grapefruit. Like the mandarin, it has a thin skin, yet is unique due to its intense, orange colour. Its most distinctive feature is undoubtedly its shape, namely a slight bulge at the top, making it resemble a lemon.

Tangerine essential oil – how is it extracted?

Essential oil, or more precisely tangerine essence, is obtained by cold-pressing the fruit’s peel. This extraction process preserves, in addition to volatile compounds, substances with health-promoting properties. The peel is thoroughly washed before pressing, and the fruit itself must be fresh and ripe.

Pressing is carried out using a specialised press, which enables the essence contained within the fruit peel to be properly separated from the peel itself. As a result,, unlike the use of steam, there is no possibility of obtaining a by-product of pressing, such as hydrolate. The essence preserved in this way is therefore extremely highly concentrated, characterised by a wealth of health-promoting substances. Tangerine essential oil – properties The main components of tangerine essential oil include:

• α-Pinene
• Myrcene
• Limonene
• y-Terpinene
• Naringenin
• Citronellal
• Linalool
• Geraniol
• Thymol

The above substances are responsible for the wealth of health-promoting properties of tangerine, although the strongest effects are exhibited by the limonene and γ-terpinene it contains. These molecules give tangerine essential oil the following properties:

• Calming – tangerine essential oil acts on the sympathetic nervous system and soothes an overstimulated central nervous system. This enables rapid and intense relaxation at the neurological and muscular levels.
• Toning – the action of limonene contained in tangerine aids digestion. It stimulates bile production by the liver and its proper excretion through the intestines. It also aids the expulsion of excess intestinal gas and has a mild laxative effect.
• Antiseptic – Monoterpenes, particularly effective in aromatherapy, have bactericidal,, antiviral and antifungal properties.
• Antioxidant – limonene exhibits chemopreventive effects, thereby reducing the number of free radicals in the body, and providing neuroprotection.
• Hepatoprotective – Tangerine oil is often sought after for its hepatoprotective properties. It plays an active role in the elimination of toxic substances in the liver, and reduces the risk of obesity.
• Hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic – the essence significantly lowers glucose levels in red blood cells, thereby causing a significant slowdown in the production of bad cholesterol and triglycerides.

Tangerine oil – what are its uses?

As we have noted, tangerine essential oil has many beneficial properties. These benefits are extremely useful in the potential everyday applications of tangerine. What are they?

• Calming the nervous system – The gentle, relaxing and balancing tangerine essential oil will help you unwind during difficult times or moments of excessive stress.
• Detoxification of the body – its cleansing properties detoxify the blood by expelling unwanted toxic compounds, such as uric acid or excess sodium. Toxins leave the body via sweat, urine or the intestines.
• Weight loss – when applied topically as a massage oil, it helps combat cellulite. It can also boost the metabolism, whilst keeping the stomach in good condition. Furthermore,, tangerine essential oil aids circulation and helps balance the pH of digestive juices in the stomach.
• Supporting the treatment of infections – The high vitamin C content in tangerine oil prevents urinary tract ailments, as well as infections such as flu, or the common cold. The oil is extremely beneficial for the immune system.
• Blood pressure control – the valuable potassium content in tangerines has a beneficial effect on arterial narrowing, and is therefore particularly recommended for people suffering from high blood pressure. Substances derived directly from grapefruit, help break down and eliminate bad cholesterol from the body, cleansing the blood vessels of fat and atherosclerotic plaques.
• Room deodorisation – the antiseptic properties of tangerine allow the air around us to be disinfected and pleasantly refreshed. In addition,, the active ingredients of the oil, when inhaled via diffusion, have a positive effect on the body and mind, improving mood, as well as calming the mind and stimulating activity.

Tangerine oil in aromatherapy

Tangerine essential oil is widely used in aromatherapy due to its wealth of properties. In addition to the noticeable anti-stress effects typical of mandarin, tangerine also stimulates the body when inhaled as part of home aromatherapy. The richness of its scents, which promote relaxation and a good night’s sleep, are reflected in the use of tangerine essential oil as an effective aromatherapeutic remedy for insomnia. To put the health-promoting effects of the oil into practice, pour up to 10 drops into a nebuliser or a diffuser filled with water and allow the scent to gently disperse throughout the room. This form of aromatherapy can be used up to twice a day, ideally in the morning and in the evening before bed. It is worth remembering to use only 100% organic, natural essential oils, which are characterised by high safety and effectiveness in delivering the aforementioned benefits.

“Polymethoxylated, C- and O-glycosyl flavonoids in tangelo (Citrus reticulata×Citrus paradisi) juice and their influence on antioxidant properties” – D. Barreca et al., scientific journal Food Chemistry, Elsevier, 2013.

“Flavanones in oranges, tangerines (mandarins), tangors, and tangelos: a compilation and review of the data from the analytical literature” – J. J. Peterson, scientific journal Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, Elsevier, 2006.

“Effects of vitamin C supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials” – S. P. Juraschek, E. Guallar, L. J. Appel, E. R. Miller, scientific journal The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Elsevier, 2012.

“The Gastroprotective Effect of Naringenin against Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Mice through Inhibiting Oxidative and Inflammatory Responses” – W-S. Li et al., scientific journal International Journal of Molecular Sciences, MDPI, 2021.

“Citrus fruit extracts reduce advanced glycation end products (AGEs) - and H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in human adipocytes” – D. Ramful et al., scientific journal Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, ACS, 2010.

“Antioxidant Potential of Naringenin Helps to Protect Liver Tissue from Streptozotocin-Induced Damage” – R. Rashmi et al., scientific journal Reports of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Varastegan Institute for Medical Sciences, 2018.

“»Mapo« tangelo essential oil” – G. Dugo et al., scientific journal Flavour and Fragrance Journal, John Wiley & Sons, 1990.

“Essential oils of Kenyan Citrus fruits: volatile components of two varieties of mandarins (Citrus reticulata) and a tangelo (C. paradisi × C. tangerina) ” – S. M. Njoroge et al., scientific journal Flavour and Fragrance Journal, John Wiley & Sons, 2005.