Pharmacognostic approach to evaluate the micromorphological, phytochemical and biological features of Citrus lumia seeds

This study evaluated the micro-morphology as well as the chemical and biological features of Citrus lumia seeds. The cream-colored pyriform seed showed a woody coat covered by a thick layer of mucilage and an embryo with two large cotyledons rich in oil bodies. Hydroxycinnamic acid glycosides and flavonoids are the most abundant compounds in methanol and ethyl acetate extracts (ME and EAE), respectively. Conversely, fatty acids and alpha-tocopherol represent the main bioactive compounds in the hexane extract (HE). ME showed the most promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities already in cell-free assays. These results were confirmed by experiments carried out on human primary cells. Indeed, ME showed the best inhibitory activity against heatinduced haemolysis and ROS formation in erythrocytes. Moreover, the same order of potency (ME > EAE > HE) was observed also on peripheral blood mononuclear cells, in which the seed extracts were able to decrease TNF-alpha and IL-6 release after LPS-induced inflammation.