ABSTRACT

Bergamot is a small and roughly pear-shaped citrus fruit that grows on small trees known as bergamots (Citrus bergamia Risso, Rutaceae). Bergamot plants, despite their uncertain species denition and phytogeographical origin, are mainly cultivated in Ionian coastal regions of southern Italy, Argentina, and Brazil. Bergamot essential oil is used in the cosmetic and perfumery industries, regardless of the presence on the market of synthetic surrogates. Bergamot juice has not reached the popularity of the other citrus juices in the daily diet for its organoleptic properties, but it is used to fortify fruit juice in place of synthetic additives. A peculiarity of bergamot is the considerable abundance and variety of bioactive compounds, present in all parts of the fruit and so recovered in large amounts in its essential oil, juice, and peels. Over the past few years, following the growing interest in antioxidant bioactive compounds and their dietary sources, bergamot juice has attracted attention as a result of its remarkable avonoid content. Despite little clinical evidence proving their effects, bergamot derivatives (especially essential oil and juice) have been used for centuries, reputedly effectively, as a traditional medicine, in particular as digestive tonic and worming agents. Due to their strong antiseptic properties, they have also been employed to treat a variety of infections

21.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 499 21.2 Neurobiological Properties of Bergamot Essential Oil ................................500