Effect of Honey on Naringin Absorption from a Decoction of the Pericarps of Citrus grandis

Abstract To measure naringin/naringenin absorption of a decoction prepared from the pericarps of CITRUS GRANDIS and to investigate the effect of honey on naringin/naringenin absorption, six healthy males received 200 mL decoctions of untreated and honey-treated Pericarpium Citri Grandis in a randomized crossover design. The absorption was measured by renal recovery of naringenin glucuronides/sulfates over 48 hours. The contents of naringin/naringenin in 200 mL decoctions of untreated and honey-treated Pericarpium Citri Grandis were determined to be 261.5/23.8 μmol and 303.3/11.6 μmol, respectively. The mean cumulated renal excretion of naringenin glucuronides/sulfates after intake of these two decoctions were 74.8 μmol (26.2 % of dose) and 49.8 μmol (15.8 % of dose), respectively. Paired Student’s t-test showed that the difference of the total renal recovery of naringin/naringenin between the two decoctions was significant. The results indicated that honey significantly reduced naringin/naringenin absorption by 33.4 % in humans and suggested that honey treatment might alter the efficacy of Pericarpium Citri Grandis.