Bitter Orange: Citrus aurantium subsp. Bitter. Small tree native to China and Japan, currently cultivated in the Mediterranean countries. The parts used are: the exocarp of the fruit or flavedo, internally covered by the albedo (essentially consisting of pectins), the flowers and the leaves. The exocarp is used after drying - in this case it becomes a proper drug and the essential oil is not extracted - or fresh, squeezed or punched to obtain the essential oil of bitter orange (Neroli).
The oil is also extracted from the flowers and leaves; in the latter case the fresh leaves are left to macerate in water and subjected to steam distillation; the flowers collected during the flowering period are instead subjected directly to distillation, to obtain the essence of neroli; both oils are widely used by the cosmetic industry.
The essential oil extracted from the fruit and the exocarp as such, in drug form, have mildly sedative, eupeptic and spasmolytic properties. The bitter orange fruit is used in the herbal and liqueur sector (Curaçao).
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