Orange-yellow or orange-red oily liquid. Possesses a special aroma of sour orange (Seville orange) and an aromatic bitter flavor. Can be affected by light. Neutral in litmus test of alcoholic solutions. Unstable to strong acids and bases. Easily soluble in water, miscible with anhydrous ethanol or equal amount of glacial acetic acid, soluble in methyl benzoate, dimethyl phthalate and non-volatile and mineral oils, slightly soluble in propylene glycol, insoluble in glycerol.
Bitter orange is grown in Asia and parts of the Mediterranean.
Bitter orange has been used traditionally as a sedative, an appetite stimulant, an insecticide for mosquitos, and for Tinea infections and dyspepsia. It is also used for anemia, kidney/bladder disorders, heart, and circulation. Topically bitter orange is used for inflammation of eyelids, conjunctivae, muscle pain, rheumatic pain, and phlibitis.
Extractives and their physically modified derivatives such as tinctures, concretes, absolutes, essential oils, oleoresins, terpenes, terpene-free fractions, distillates, residues, etc., obtained from Citrus aurantium, Rutaceae.
