Components and Food Function of Yuzu (Citrus junos) Fruit Whole Paste

We prepared Yuzu (Citrus junos) fruit whole paste to analyze its food functionalities and aroma components, and to evaluate its functionality. Nomilin, which is one of the food functional components, was found in the seeds and in the Yuzu fruit whole paste. The Yuzu fruit whole paste from Saitama Prefecture contains vanillin, which is a sweet scent, and eugenol, which is a spicy scent. Additionally, the Yuzu fruit whole paste was found to contain sufficient aroma components. Furthermore, the freeze-dried Yuzu fruit whole paste may affect the lipid metabolism. Importantly, nomillin present in the Yuzu fruit whole paste increased collagen synthesis in the cultured progenitor osteoblasts, thereby indicating that nomillin has the potential to improve the bone metabolism. The use of the Yuzu fruit whole paste including pericarp and seeds made in this study is expected to reduce the industrial waste cost for producers and contribute to the regional industry. Furthermore, the Yuzu fruit whole paste may also have meaningful physiological effects on consumers because of the presence of functional components in the seeds and peels.