Generality
Grapefruit is a subtropical citrus tree grown for its fruit, originally known as the "forbidden fruit" of Barbados.
Grapefruit was first documented in 1750 by Rev. Griffith Hughes, when he described some specimens from Barbados.
Grapefruit is the fruit of the tree Citrus paradisi Macf
Every part of the fruit can be used, even if it is mainly consumed squeezed to obtain a thirst-quenching and vitaminic juice, with a sour and bitter taste.
From the grapefruit peel you can extract the oils dedicated to aromatherapy, as well as a soluble dietary fiber.
The seed and pulp, obtained as industrial by-products of pressing, are normally sold as livestock feed.
The alternative application of the seed concerns the production of the so-called grapefruit seed extract (GSE).
25 years ago Aubrey Hampton, founder of "Aubrey Organics", was the first to advertise the "citrus seed extract which he incorporated into" Aubrey "s Natural Preservative". Today, GSE is mainly marketed in the health sector both at retail and on the internet.
What is the GSE?
GSE is the acronym for "Grapefruit Seed Extract", English term for grapefruit seed extract.
Specifically, it is a liquid extract, which can be obtained at home or in the laboratory by grinding the grapefruit seeds and the pulp deprived of the juice; the resulting slurry must then be mixed with glycerin.
On an industrial level, grapefruit seed extract is obtained by mixing seeds, pulp and glycerin; indicatively, glycerin represents 30-40% by weight of the product.
What is it used for?
Grapefruit seed extract has been the subject of pressing media campaigns aimed at enhancing its alleged antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties.
Books have even been written and marketed entirely dedicated to this product, which is still driven by pressing advertising campaigns today.
The absence of scientific evidence and the numerous reports of adulterations with synthetic preservatives, dangerous for human health, have only partially reduced the use of these claims for commercial purposes.
It is truly distressing to note that most Italian internet sites continue to paint grapefruit seed extract as a "prodigious natural antibiotic", despite the lack of a minimum scientific support.
Having ascertained the "groundlessness of the" disinfectant "properties, in order to advertise the supplements based on grapefruit seed extract, efforts are being made to give greater prominence to the alleged antioxidant properties and to the vitamin-mineral contribution.
