NCHU Research: Citrus Waste Turns Gold with Biomedical and Health Potential
National Chung Hsing University's research found that natural monoterpenes from citrus processing waste can restore mitochondrial vitality and protect nerve cells, indicating potential for biomedical and health products. This discovery, published in "Journal of Functional Foods," highlights a circular economy approach to transform low-value waste into high-value bioactive materials.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 5, 2026 at 20:02
- 🔍 Collected: May 5, 2026 at 20:31 (29 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 5, 2026 at 20:37 (5 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Reporter Zhao Liyan, Taichung, 5th) The College of Circular Economy at National Chung Hsing University has discovered that natural monoterpene compounds in citrus processing waste can restore mitochondrial vitality and protect nerve cells, as shown in cell experiments. This suggests a potential for developing biomedical and health products in the future.
National Chung Hsing University today released a press release on its research findings. Citrus peels and pomace, which are waste products after citrus processing, are rich in the natural monoterpene compound γ-terpinene. Cell experiments have shown that it can significantly enhance mitochondrial energy metabolism and repair damaged nerve cells. The results were published in April in the international journal "Journal of Functional Foods."
The research was guided by Professor Wang Sheng-Yang, Dean of the College of Circular Economy at NCHU, with team members including Dr. Hsu Mu-Jung and Master's student Tsai Ching-Yi. This study is the first to systematically explain the neuroprotective mechanism of active ingredients in citrus essential oil from the perspective of "mitochondrial bioenergetics."
Hsu Mu-Jung stated that mitochondria are like the "power plants" of cells, responsible for generating ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is the "energy currency" for energy transfer within cells, providing the energy needed for bodily functions. When mitochondrial function is impaired, insufficient ATP is produced, leading to cellular energy shortages. This has a greater impact on nerve cells, which have high energy demands, and in the long term, it may be related to health problems such as neurodegeneration.
The team used a nerve cell model to simulate glutamate-induced nerve damage and found that γ-terpinene has multiple key roles, including restoring mitochondrial function, enhancing ATP production to "recharge" cells, reducing oxidative stress and cell damage, and promoting the production of dopamine and norepinephrine, thereby achieving overall repair of energy metabolism and protection of nerve cells.
Wang Sheng-Yang pointed out that the team, through the extraction of essential oil from citrus peel waste and activity analysis, has realized the circular economy concept of "transforming low-value waste into high-value bioactive materials." This is expected to be applied in functional foods and nutritional supplements, prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, high-value utilization technology for agricultural by-products, forest therapy and natural essential oils, and precision health agriculture and low-carbon production systems. (Editor: Chen Ching-Fang) 1150505
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to get the latest news in real-time.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.
(Central News Reporter Zhao Liyan, Taichung, 5th) The College of Circular Economy at National Chung Hsing University has discovered that natural monoterpene compounds in citrus processing waste can restore mitochondrial vitality and protect nerve cells, as shown in cell experiments. This suggests a potential for developing biomedical and health products in the future.
National Chung Hsing University today released a press release on its research findings. Citrus peels and pomace, which are waste products after citrus processing, are rich in the natural monoterpene compound γ-terpinene. Cell experiments have shown that it can significantly enhance mitochondrial energy metabolism and repair damaged nerve cells. The results were published in April in the international journal "Journal of Functional Foods."
The research was guided by Professor Wang Sheng-Yang, Dean of the College of Circular Economy at NCHU, with team members including Dr. Hsu Mu-Jung and Master's student Tsai Ching-Yi. This study is the first to systematically explain the neuroprotective mechanism of active ingredients in citrus essential oil from the perspective of "mitochondrial bioenergetics."
Hsu Mu-Jung stated that mitochondria are like the "power plants" of cells, responsible for generating ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is the "energy currency" for energy transfer within cells, providing the energy needed for bodily functions. When mitochondrial function is impaired, insufficient ATP is produced, leading to cellular energy shortages. This has a greater impact on nerve cells, which have high energy demands, and in the long term, it may be related to health problems such as neurodegeneration.
The team used a nerve cell model to simulate glutamate-induced nerve damage and found that γ-terpinene has multiple key roles, including restoring mitochondrial function, enhancing ATP production to "recharge" cells, reducing oxidative stress and cell damage, and promoting the production of dopamine and norepinephrine, thereby achieving overall repair of energy metabolism and protection of nerve cells.
Wang Sheng-Yang pointed out that the team, through the extraction of essential oil from citrus peel waste and activity analysis, has realized the circular economy concept of "transforming low-value waste into high-value bioactive materials." This is expected to be applied in functional foods and nutritional supplements, prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, high-value utilization technology for agricultural by-products, forest therapy and natural essential oils, and precision health agriculture and low-carbon production systems. (Editor: Chen Ching-Fang) 1150505
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to get the latest news in real-time.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.