Method of extracting flavonoids and/or polyphenols from dried and powdered citrus peels, compositions therefrom, and methods of treatment of diseases associated with chronic inflammation

Abstract

Improved processes for extracting polyphenols and/or flavonoids from citrus peels are provided that comprise 1) heating a ground peel to form a pre-treated, ground peel; and 2) extracting the compounds of interest from the pre-treated, ground peel using a basic solution of pH greater than 7 and less than 12. Such processes serve to increase the efficiency of extraction of the polyphenols and/or flavonoids. In preferred embodiments, the flavonoids extracted include hesperidin and narirutin. These extracts are useful in the preparation of anti-inflammatory medicaments for the treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and multiple sclerosis.

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