Hesperetin (hesperetin), as a metabolite of citrus flavonoids, has an excellent superiority in antioxidant activity. In a 2022 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry article, Hesperetin has an oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC value) of 12,500 μmol TE/g, higher than quercetin (9,800 μmol TE/g) and apigenin (7,200 μmol TE/g), its DPPH scavenging EC50 value was 23 μM, 35% lower than epicatechin. Regarding anti-inflammatory activity, Hesperetin has the ability to suppress the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α by 52% and 48% (50 μM in vitro), respectively, via the suppression of the NF-κB pathway, while quercetin only suppresses 38% and 29% under the same conditions.
Hesperetin’s bioavailability is a drawback, but its nanoemulsification technology can make this drawback a strength. A clinical trial that appeared in the European Journal of Nutrition in 2021 had proved that liposome-encapsulated Hesperetin has a high oral bioavailability level of 42%, compared to its low rate of 8.7% in the unencapsulated powder form, far below the 25%-40% reported for catechins. In cardiovascular protection, Hesperetin inhibited the oxidation rate of LDL by 60% (experimental concentration 10 μM) better than rutin (45%) and naringin (33%). Market data project that global functional food containing Hesperetin sales will be 480 million US dollars in 2023 at an 17% annual growth rate, 39% of which is the European market, used mainly in blood pressure-reducing and anti-saccharation products (such as the German brand with 50 mg/capsule repurchase rate of 71%).
From the production cost, Hesperetin extraction efficiency is limited by raw material supply. Industrial-scale Hesperetin that is extracted from citrus peel with a 90 percent purity level costs about $220 per kilogram, while the soy isoflavones are just $85. However, the supercritical CO₂ extraction process is able to shorten the extraction cycle of Hesperetin from 48 hours to 16 hours, and reduce energy consumption by 40%. In the toxicity test, the LD50 (oral, rat) of Hesperetin was 3,500 mg/kg and possessed a wider safety margin compared to resveratrol (1,600 mg/kg). The level of penetration of Hesperetin in anti-aging cosmetics will be 21% in 2025 and MMP-1 inhibitory activity of 68% (concentration of 0.1%), which will be greater compared to ferulic acid (54%) and proanthocyanidins (49%), according to Grand View Research. Become a leading option for multi-target beauty ingredients.