Advances in studies on the biological activities of hesperidin and hesperetin

Hesperidin and hesperetin are the major medicinal compounds in citrus fruits(family of Rutaceae).In this paper,we summarized the recent developments in research of the pharmacological activities of hesperidin and hesperetin,such as anti-oxidative and free radicals-scavenging effects,regulatory effect on cardiovascular system,neuroprotectant effect,anti-allergic and dermatitis-inhibiting effects,antibacterial and antimicrobial activities,improving effect on bioavailability of other drugs,etc.Additionally,the differences of pharmacological activities between hesperidin and hesperetin were compared.Based on their pharmacological activities,the exploitation of the new pharmaceutical preparations and health care products has received wide attention,such as those for anti-aging,cosmetology,cardiovascular health,maintenance of nervous function,etc.As the natural material compounds with rich resource,easy extraction,and exact and stable biological activities,hesperidin and hesperetin may have broad development prospects.