Bergamot  is a fruit of plants Citrus bergamia or Citrus medica belonging to the Rutaceae family.

From its root, stems, leaves, flowers and fruit are obtained

an essential oil obtained from the bergamot peel, which is deep yellow in colour

• a dark brown powder extract

What it is used for and where

Medical

Bergamot has a long tradition as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory remedy for respiratory and urinary tract infections, oral and skin infections, and fever.

Bergamot essential oil has a high content of limonene, linalool and linalyl acetate. Many clinical studies have shown encouraging results on the relief of pain, stress, depression and anxiety. In fact, in 2015, a study by Watanabe et al. tested the endocrinological, physiological and psychological effects of inhaling bergamot essential oil vapour and concluded that it exerts psychological and physiological effects in a relatively short time (1).

The scientific literature has also provided evidence of the anti-cholesterolaemic properties of bergamot administered in various forms and that its intake is well tolerated (2). On the other hand, many scientific studies have highlighted the close relationship between diets rich in flavonoids and the reduction of cardiovascular risks due to high levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL.

It should also be emphasised that flavonoids in general, in addition to their antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, exert positive activity on capillary fragility and may inhibit or otherwise limit human platelet aggregation. In any case, consumption of products with a high polyphenol content is associated with a reduced incidence of cancer (3).

It should be remembered that the essential oils constitute a kind of concentrate of the active ingredients contained in the fruit.

As far as the polyphenolic composition of bergamot is concerned, there are discrete quantities of phenolic acids: ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid and, as regards flavonoids: quercetin, epicatechin, catechin.

Cosmetics

Bergamot essential oil is used in shampoos, hair conditioners and skin care products as an antioxidant.

Fragrance. It plays a very important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it allows perfume to be enhanced, masked or added to the final product, improving its commercial viability.  The consumer always expects to find a pleasant scent in a cosmetic product.

Deodorant agent. When substances that give off an unpleasant odour are included in cosmetic formulations (typical examples are methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulphide derived from garlic), deodorants attenuate or eliminate the unpleasant exhalation.

Skin conditioning agent - Miscellaneous.  This ingredient has the task of modifying the condition of the skin when it is damaged or dry by reducing its flakiness and restoring its elasticity.

The most relevant studies on this ingredient have been selected with a summary of their contents:

  Bergamot studies

References_________________________________________________________________

(1) Watanabe E, Kuchta K, Kimura M, Rauwald HW, Kamei T, Imanishi J. Effects of bergamot ( Citrus bergamia (Risso) Wright & Arn.) essential oil aromatherapy on mood states, parasympathetic nervous system activity, and salivary cortisol levels in 41 healthy females. Forsch Komplementmed. 2015;22(1):43-9. doi: 10.1159/000380989.

(2) Nauman MC, Johnson JJ. Clinical application of bergamot (Citrus bergamia) for reducing high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease markers. Integr Food Nutr Metab. 2019 Mar;6(2):10.15761/IFNM.1000249. doi: 10.15761/IFNM.1000249.

Huang Y, Tocmo R, Nauman MC, Haughan MA, Johnson JJ. Defining the Cholesterol Lowering Mechanism of Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) Extract in HepG2 and Caco-2 Cells. Nutrients. 2021 Sep 10;13(9):3156. doi: 10.3390/nu13093156.

(3) Li WQ, Kuriyama S, Li Q, Nagai M, Hozawa A, Nishino Y, Tsuji I. Citrus consumption and cancer incidence: the Ohsaki cohort study. Int J Cancer. 2010 Oct 15;127(8):1913-22. doi: 10.1002/ijc.25203.