Citrus Bioflavonoids (Hesperidin)

Hesperidin is the principal flavanone glycoside of citrus, formally hesperetin-7-O-rutinoside, CAS 520-26-3, molecular formula C28H34O15 and molecular weight 610.56. It concentrates in the albedo and immature fruit rather than the juice, so the commercial raw material is dried peel and immature fruit of bitter orange, Citrus aurantium L., and sweet orange, Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, recovered from juicing streams. Thovek supplies two commercially distinct articles under this heading and they should not be confused when specifying. Purified hesperidin is offered at 90%, 92% and 95% by HPLC as an off-white to light yellow powder with a melting point of 258 to 262 degrees C, softening from about 252 degrees C. Citrus bioflavonoid complex is the broader natural extract, standardised at 25%, 40%, 50% or 60% total bioflavonoids calculated as hesperidin, and it still carries the accompanying naringin, narirutin, neohesperidin, eriocitrin and polymethoxylated flavones that the buyer may or may not want in the finished label. Solubility governs most formulation decisions here. Hesperidin is very poorly water-soluble, on the order of one gram in fifty litres of water, and only slightly soluble in ether, acetone, chloroform and benzene; it dissolves readily in dilute alkali, dimethyl sulfoxide and formamide. For dry dosage forms this is rarely a problem, but for beverages, sachets and rapid-disintegration tablets the practical routes are a micronised grade, a solubilised or complexed grade, or the more soluble complex rather than the pure glycoside. We hold a micronised grade for formulators who want a tighter particle distribution for content uniformity in low-dose blends, and can supply on carrier where dry-blend flow matters. The material is wholly plant-derived and suits vegan, vegetarian, halal and kosher claims. It carries no milk, egg, soy, fish, crustacean, tree nut, peanut or gluten input, and no animal-derived processing aid is used. Citrus is not a listed major allergen under EU Regulation 1169/2011 Annex II or the FSSAI labelling regulations, but many brands choose to declare the citrus origin voluntarily for consumers who avoid it, and we state the botanical species and plant part on every certificate of analysis so that declaration can be made accurately. Non-GMO status is confirmed by the botanical origin. Residual solvents are controlled to ICH Q3C class limits, and each lot ships with assay by HPLC, heavy metals, pesticide residue and microbiological data.