Naringenin is a natural predominant flavanone derived from plant food with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Naringenin reduces oxidative damage to DNA in vitro, and increases VLDL as well as cholesterol levels. Naringenin is used for the treatment of HCV infection. Naringenin can be used as nutritional supplement in health care products.

Naringenin is a weak estrogen that also exhibits partial antiestrogenic activity in the female rat uterus and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Naringenin is also a agent for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Naringenin has hypocholesterolemic, antioxidant, free radical scavenger, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, carbohydrate metabolism promoter, and immune system modulator properties. Naringenin possesses potent antidepressant-like property via the central serotonergic and noradrenergic systems.

Naringenin is a flavonoid commonly found in grapefruits which functions as an antioxidant, free radical scavenger, anti-inflammatory compound, carbohydrate metabolism promoter, and immune system modulator. Studies indicate that in vitro Naringenin reduces oxidative damage to DNA. In addition, Naringenin potently inhibits the secretion of very-low-density lipoproteins by cells. Furthermore, Naringenin has been shown to reduce cholesterol concentrations in hepatocytes and plasma cells via inhibiting HMGCR (HMG-CoA reductase). Studies conducted on Hepatitis C virus particles demonstrate that Naringenin can inhibit the virus via a PPAR-mediated mechanism by inhibiting the long term assembly of the virus.