Survey of Phenolic Compounds Produced in Citrus
Flavonoid Composition of Citrus

The papedas comprise a subgroup of species of the genus Citrus. Papedas have acrid oil glands in their fruit and a large winged petiole on their leaves. Most papeda cultivars (C. hystrix, C. longospina, C. excelsa, C. macrophylla (alemow), Mauritius papeda, and megacarpa papeda) contain predominantly hesperidin. In 'Davao Lemon' papeda, isorhoifolin predominates. Narirutin and naringin–6"–malonate are also found in all types of papeda in this survey. Poncerin, neohesperidin, naringin, and neoeriocitrin have been found in various papedas (Fisher 1968, Nishiura et al. 1971b). Only hesperidin is found in the leaf and juice vesicle tissues in C. rugulosa (alemow). Hesperidin, narirutin, and eriocitrin are found in the megacarpa papeda. Others have found mainly hesperidin in the leaves of Mauritius papeda and megacarpa papeda (Nishiura et al. 1971b) and hesperidin and narirutin in papeda fruit (Albach and Redman 1969).

The papedas contain predominantly rutin as the main flavone/ol constituent. Diosmin is present in some tissues, mainly the leaves of Mauritius papeda and megacarpa papeda. The papedas also contain detectable levels of the flavone/ols rutin, isorhoifolin, and diosmin in all tissues examined.

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United States Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service

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Original posting: April 1, 1999.