Researchers from the University of Science and Technology in Korea have discovered that yuzu (Citrus junos Tanaka) reduces the accumulation of hepatic lipids. This study, which was published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, used in vivo and in vitro experiments to determine the inhibitory effect of yuzu on hepatic lipid accumulation.

• Previous studies have shown that yuzu, a yellow citrus fruit commonly consumed in Korea, Japan, and China, has potential in preventing certain diseases.
• Prior to this study, the inhibitory effect of yuzu on hepatic lipid accumulation has not been determined.
• The in vitro inhibitory effect of the ethanol extract of yuzu peels was determined using HepG2 cells.
• In vivo studies made use of mice as model animals.
• Mice were divided into the following groups: normal diet, high-cholesterol diet without treatment, high-cholesterol diet with one percent yuzu ethanol extract, and high-cholesterol diet with five percent yuzu ethanol extract.
• The results of these experiments show that ethanol extracts from yuzu peels can reduce hepatic lipid accumulation and increase expression of cholesterol metabolism-related proteins.
• Aside from these, it was also observed that the consequences of a high-cholesterol diet were significantly reduced in mice treated with yuzu ethanol extract.

Overall, these results show that yuzu can potentially be used to treat hypercholesterolemia.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

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Journal Reference: 

Shin EJ, Park JH, Sung MJ, Chung M-Y, Hwang J-T. CITRUS JUNOS TANAKA PEEL AMELIORATES HEPATIC LIPID ACCUMULATION IN HEPG2 CELLS AND IN MICE FED A HIGH-CHOLESTEROL DIET. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 3 December 2016;16(499). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-016-1460-y