Citrus medica L. cv Diamante: an overview on the phytochemistry and potential health benefits.

Citrus fruits, which are one of the most important commercial crops growing worldwide, have received attention for their nutritional and biological properties. The health effects of the whole fruit, as well as its juices and extracts, have been studied in relation to several diseases. Anticancer, antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic, hypoglycemic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects of Citrus have been reported. Citrus species are rich sources of ascorbic acid and other bioactive compounds such as terpenes, coumarins, carotenoids, limonoids and flavonoids. The C. medica was the first Citrus fruit to come to the notice of Europeans and was for many years the only one known. Among the better known C. medica cultivars are Corsican, Diamante, Etrog and Fingered Citron. C. medica cv Diamante is the cultivar more widely grown throughout Italy and more sought after by the industry. This chapter aims at providing an up-to-date overview of the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and bioactivity of this C. medica cultivar. The relevance of C. medica cv Diamante is justified by the most recent findings indicating that it is a medicinal and nutritional agent useful for treating a range of human disorders.