Eriodictyol is a bitter-masking

flavanone The flavanones, a type of flavonoids, are various aromatic, colorless ketones derived from flavone that often occur in plants as glycosides. List of flavanones * Blumeatin * Butin * Dichamanetin * Eriodictyol * Hesperetin * Hesperidin * Hom ...

, a

flavonoid Flavonoids (or bioflavonoids; from the Latin word ''flavus'', meaning yellow, their color in nature) are a class of polyphenolic secondary metabolites found in plants, and thus commonly consumed in the diets of humans. Chemically, flavonoids ...

extracted from yerba santa ('' Eriodictyon californicum''), a plant native to

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

. Eriodictyol is one of the four

s identified in this plant as having taste-modifying properties, the other three being homoeriodictyol, its sodium salt, and sterubin. Eriodictyol has garnered scientific attention for its strong

antioxidant Antioxidants are Chemical compound, compounds that inhibit Redox, oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce Radical (chemistry), free radicals. Autoxidation leads to degradation of organic compounds, including living matter. Antioxidants ...

anti-inflammatory Anti-inflammatory is the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation, fever or swelling. Anti-inflammatory drugs, also called anti-inflammatories, make up about half of analgesics. These drugs reduce pain by inhibiting mechan ...

, and neuroprotective properties. Structurally similar to other flavonoids, such as hesperidin and naringenin, eriodictyol scavenges free radicals and regulates inflammatory responses. Eriodictyol was also found in the twigs of '' Millettia duchesnei'', in '' Eupatorium arnottianum'', and its glycosides ( eriocitrin) in lemons and

rose hips The rose hip or rosehip, also called rose haw and rose hep, is the accessory fruit of the various species of rose plant. It is typically red to orange, but ranges from dark purple to black in some species. Rose hips begin to form after pollina ...

(''Rosa canina''). Eriodictyol belongs to the

subclass of flavonoids and has a chemical structure defined by the molecular formula C15H12O6, with a molecular weight of 288.25 g/mol.

References

External links

* {{Flavanone Flavanones Bitter-masking compounds Catechols Resorcinols