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11Mandarin (lat. Citrus reticulata)
Eliseeva Tatyana, editor-in-chief of the EdaPlus.info project Yampolsky Alexey, nutritionist
E-mail: eliseeva.t@edaplus.info, yampolsky.a@edaplus.info
Abstract. The article discusses the main properties of mandarin and its effect on the human body. A systematic review of modern specialized literature and relevant scientific data was carried out. The chemical composition and nutritional value of the fruit are indicated, the use of mandarin in various types of medicine and the effectiveness of its use in various diseases are considered. The potentially adverse effects of mandarin on the human body under certain medical conditions and diseases are analyzed separately. The scientific foundations of diets with its use are considered.
Key words: mandarin, benefit, harm, beneficial properties, contraindications Beneficial features
Table 1. Chemical composition of avocados (according to Food+ ).
Main substances (g/100 g): Fresh tangerines [1] Canned tangerines in syrup [2]
Water 85.17 83.06
Carbohydrates 13.34 16.19
Sugar 10.58 15.49
Squirrels 0.81 0.45
Alimentary fiber 1.8 0.7
Fats 0.31 0.1
Calories (kcal) 53 61
Minerals (mg/100 g):
Potassium 166 78
Calcium 37 7
Phosphorus twenty ten
Magnesium 12 eight
Sodium 2 6
Iron 0.15 0.37
Zinc 0.07 0.24
Copper 0.042 0.044
Vitamins (mg/100 g):
Vitamin C 26.7 19.8
Vitamin PP 0.376 0.445
Vitamin E 0.2 0.1
Vitamin B6 0.078 0.042
Vitamin B1 0.058 0.053
Vitamin B2 0.036 0.044
The table shows that vitamin C, which all citrus fruits are famous for, is about 27 mg / 100 g in mandarin. In some varieties it can be 2 times more, but the concentration of vitamin C is an order of magnitude higher, for example, in bell pepper (about 250 mg/100 g) or in dried rose hips (up to 1200 mg/100 g). Nevertheless, in winter, when other products are less available, it is citruses that become the main source of vitamin C, which is practically not lost in mandarin during storage.
In addition, tangerines (also in relatively small amounts) contain choline (10.2 mg / 100 g), which, according to an outdated tradition, is sometimes still called vitamin B4, and lutein (138 mcg / 100 g). But on the other hand, tangerine is considered one of the best sources of the "citrus bioflavonoid" hesperidin, sometimes second only to sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) juice in this indicator. Fresh fruits of mandarin (Citrus reticulata) contain 19.26 (+/-11.56) mg g/100 g of fresh fruit weight, in a hybrid of orange and mandarin - about 15.42 (+/-7.00) mg/100 g, in a hybrid of mandarin and grapefruit - 4.21 (+/-2.93) mg/100 g
Medicinal properties
In traditional therapeutic systems, mandarin fruits were used mainly as regulators of the gastrointestinal tract (with moderate use), and mandarin peel was also used as an antispasmodic, stimulant and anti-inflammatory agent. However, due to the presence of a number of useful elements in the pulp and peel of citrus, mandarin is able to exhibit some other medicinal properties.
The yellow pigment lutein in mandarin, along with other lutein-containing foods, can help restore visual function. The human body does not synthesize lutein, getting it exclusively from food. Mandarin, with 138 mcg / 100 g, although it is in the top 15 products containing lutein, is very far behind the leaders - spinach (12198 mcg), Kale (8198 mcg), parsley (5561 mcg) and others. Taking into account the fact that the daily intake of lutein is about 5 mg (5 thousand mcg), you will have to eat about 3.5 kg of tangerines per day in order to provide the body with lutein only due to citrus. Moreover, it is desirable - with fats, which increase its digestibility.
Despite this, in combination with other products, tangerine can help the body replenish the lack of lutein, which has two main functions in the body:
• Protective. Lutein protects against free radicals, which, formed under the influence of the most aggressive blue-violet part of the visible spectrum of direct sunlight, lead to retinal degeneration.
• Filtration. Thanks to lutein, the "aberration halo" is eliminated, which increases the clarity of objects and, accordingly, increases visual acuity. As a light filter, lutein also saves the lens from clouding.
Another useful organic compound in mandarin is choline. From it, the body synthesizes a transmitter of nerve impulses (acetylcholine), which ensures the functioning of memory and the functions of the nervous system. In addition, as a hepatoprotector, choline helps transport fats in the liver, regulates insulin levels and affects carbohydrate metabolism.
The body produces it in insufficient quantities, and up to the daily norm of 0.5-1 g (500-1000 mg), choline must be "grabbed" from food. Mandarin contains only 10.2 mg of choline per 100 g, therefore, as in the previous case, it is necessary to eat a lot per day - more than 5 kg of tangerines in order to compensate for the lack of choline. However, along with other choline-rich foods (eggs, liver, sprouted rice and wheat, etc.), tangerine helps build a healthy and varied diet. In addition, tangerines are usually eaten without heat treatment, which destroys choline when cooked in other foods.
Hesperidin is obtained from the fruits and spongy part of dried mandarin peels - a natural compound (a source of hesperitin in the body), which is characterized by a complex effect on the cardiovascular system:
• helps strengthen the walls of blood vessels,
• increases blood flow in the coronary vessels,
• improves the condition of capillaries,
• reduces blood pressure.
By itself, this substance reduces the symptoms of asthma, has anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic and antioxidant effects. In combination with the flavonoid diosmin (altered hesperidin), it reduces vein extensibility, increases capillary tone, promotes lymph flow and, in general, has a venotonic effect. In combination with synephrine, it speeds up metabolism, and with nitric oxide inhibitors, it can exhibit neuroprotective properties.
The flavonoid naringin from mandarin peel exhibits antioxidant effects [3] , lowers cholesterol levels [ 4] and enhances cognitive function [5] . There is also an assumption that it can increase the elasticity of capillaries and exhibit antitumor properties. Existing techniques make it possible to extract up to 74% of naringin from its initial content in the raw material by destroying the cell walls of the tangerine peel using a certain composition of the multi-enzyme composition.
Use in medicine
In the pharmaceutical industry, pomace from dried mandarin peel is most often used, which is added to extracts, syrups and some medicines to improve the taste of medicines. In addition, it contains hesperidin, a powerful cardioprotector, which, in addition, protects the brain from stress factors. This substance in a 10% concentration is included, for example, in the composition of Daflon, a drug intended for the treatment of varicose veins, edema, restless legs syndrome and other chronic venous diseases, as well as symptomatic treatment of hemorrhoids.
Dried bark of ripe fruits is included in the State Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, which is widely used by Chinese doctors in the treatment of diseases and pathological conditions of the gastrointestinal tract (in particular, vomiting, diarrhea, heaviness in the epigastric region), anorexia, respiratory diseases, beriberi.
Korean pharmacists are developing and introducing a dosage form of KMP6 extract, which has also found application in the treatment of gastrointestinal pathologies: with bloating, rumbling, diarrhea, provoked by a decrease in intestinal tone and peristalsis, with gastric distention and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as in cases of loss of appetite. The composition of the extract, in addition to sour mandarin, includes atractylodes (known as bai shu in China), jujube, ginger, licorice.
For diagnostic purposes, a food allergen is isolated from mandarin for diagnostic purposes, known under the Latin name "Allergenum e Citrus" and belonging to the pharmacological group of immunobiological drugs for diagnosis.
In folk medicine
Traditional medicine traditionally uses various parts of the plant to achieve its intended medicinal effect.
Healers recommend eating mandarin fruits to increase appetite and improve digestion. Fresh fruit juice is drunk for dysentery, diarrhea, the presence of helminths and intestinal pathologies caused by impaired intestinal motility. It is believed that the juice weakens the activity of wave-like contractions of the hollow organs of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, it has an antimicrobial effect.
The juice is also used for diseases of the respiratory system. Every morning a glass of tangerine juice removes mucus from the bronchi and upper respiratory tract. Fresh juices also quench thirst during various colds accompanied by fever.
External regular use of tangerine juice is practiced for the treatment of fungal diseases - "ringworm" (microsporia and trichophytosis). Also, with the help of fresh applications, vaginal candidiasis (thrush) is treated. This disease is caused by the yeast-like fungus Candida.
With the help of prepared tangerine peel, people lower blood sugar levels, restore the digestive tract and respiratory system. Citrus pits are sometimes used to improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Mandarin oil is popular in aromatherapy for uplifting mood and fighting lethargy.
Decoctions and infusions
Decoctions and infusions are made from the peel and leaves of mandarin. Some of the most popular recipes among the people are given below:
• Leaf decoction for gastrointestinal disorders. 3-4 leaves are filled with water (300 ml) and kept on fire for 15 minutes. After cooling, the decoction is taken three times a day, 100 ml each, until the gastrointestinal tract normalizes.
• Alcoholic infusion of mandarin peel to remove sputum from the bronchi. The peel is dried, ground, the resulting powder (3 tablespoons) is poured with vodka (250 ml), and then the mixture is infused in a dark, warm place for a week. Such an infusion is taken three times a day, only 20 drops added to a small amount of water, 15-20 minutes before meals. If alcohol is strictly prohibited, the infusion is replaced with a "cocktail" on water: tangerine peel powder (1 tablespoon) is diluted in warm water (250 ml). In this embodiment, it is enough to drink one glass of the drug per day.
• Decoction of fresh peel to lower blood sugar levels. The fresh peel of three medium-sized tangerines is poured with a liter of water and boiled for 10 minutes, after which it cools and is placed in the refrigerator without straining. Take the remedy should be a glass once a day (or half a glass twice a day) after meals.
in oriental medicine
In the ancient reference book of recipes and medicines of plant, mineral and animal origin, known as "Pen Tsao" ("Medic's Matter"), for all citrus crops there is a common name - "chu", while 5 varieties of citrus are distinguished, among which, under the name "kan " (or "chu-sha-chu") orange tangerine
is also mentioned. But regardless of the type of citrus, it is defined as a fruit that refreshes, quenches thirst, normalizes the work of the stomach, manifests itself as a "carminative" remedy, but if abused, it "increases phlegm". At the same time, more often than citrus fruits in classical Chinese medicine, the peel of kuo-pi (this is the Cantonese name for tangerine peel) is used.
The peel of the fruit is considered a universal medicine, the range of application of which is extremely wide. It is used as an antispasmodic, stimulant, anti-inflammatory and gastric remedy. It is prescribed for shortness of breath in the elderly and exhaustion in children. The peel of immature fruits is prescribed mainly as a carminative.
Boiled in wine, the inner membranes of the fruit are taken to get rid of nausea. Ground in a mortar to a powder state, seeds (with a separated shell) treat pathologies of the genitourinary system, inflammation of the lymph glands in the inguinal region, and varicose veins of the ovary. The juice of fresh leaves and a decoction of dried leaves are washed with ulcers and cancerous tumors. They are also used for menstrual disorders.
Tangerine essential oil is considered by traditional Chinese medicine to be the mildest and most soothing of the essential oils extracted from any other citrus. It has a significant effect on the condition of oily skin, helping to fight acne and giving it a healthy color. In addition, it is effective for insomnia, has antiseptic properties. Oil is also prescribed for the syndrome of increased intestinal permeability. It reduces gas formation and stimulates the lymphatic system.
In Japan, where the frost-resistant mandarin unshiu, brought from China, has long been cultivated, the tradition of using dried citrus peel as a pleasant-tasting spicy medicine to normalize the work of the stomach has also taken root. A decoction of the peel, as well as its water and alcohol infusions, were used to improve digestion and eliminate nausea, they treated bronchitis and relieved coughs. Satsuma mandarin flower tea has been recommended as a mild sedative to relieve insomnia.
In Ayurveda, the system of traditional medicine of the peoples of India, mandarin is considered a "heavy and hot" fruit that reduces Vata, one of the three primary vital forces (doshas) that determine the human constitution. Vata (corresponds to the elements of air, ether) is a biological "juice", "which moves" and is responsible for the will, thinking, movement, sensory perception. Excessive Vata provokes hypertension, insomnia, nervous system disorders, flatulence. Mandarin is able to get rid of these problems, and, in addition, it can remove helminths, improve appetite, relieve spasms, pain, fatigue and give strength. In Ayurvedic recipes, mandarin is also included in the composition of funds intended to stop bleeding of various nature.
In scientific research
Despite the prevalence of mandarin as a crop (and among citrus fruits, it lags behind only orange in terms of cultivation), there are quite a few scientific projects devoted to studying the beneficial properties of various parts of the plant. Of the recent ones, attention is drawn to those that explore the antibacterial and analgesic properties of mandarin, the possibility of its inclusion in therapeutic programs for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, liver and lung cancer.
1. Cultivated in Japan, Unshiu tangerines may be useful in the fight against atopic dermatitis.
Scientists have found that the extract of the peel of this fruit has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. For the experiment, unripe fruits were taken, since at this stage they contain a greater amount of the necessary flavonoids. The effectiveness of the agent was tested on artificially infected and shaved mice. After 36 days of exposure to the extract in experimental animals, hyperkeratosis
(thickening of the stratum corneum), reddening of the upper layer of the skin, and the number of mastocytes, cells that play a key role in inflammation, decreased [6] .
2. Essential oil from mandarin skins and terpene limonene separately extracted from them were tested for their ability to have an anti-cancer effect.
In a test-tube experiment, the scientists used the oil and limonene to combat A549 (lung cancer) HepG2 (liver cancer) cell lines. Depending on the dose, both substances had a detrimental effect on pathogenic cells. At the same time, the essential oil showed the best results. The researchers believe that it could be taken to create a drug that will be used as an additional treatment, although scientists admit that more experiments are needed to confirm the information [7] .
3. Mandarin leaves can become a raw material for the creation of painkillers.
Mandarin leaves tend to be slightly pungent, so scientists have speculated that they may contain compounds with analgesic properties. As a result of experiments, they managed to establish that in the purified essential oil of mandarin there are molecules that can become part of drugs for relieving pain of various nature [8] .
4. Inhalation aromatherapy with mandarin essential oils reduces pain and anxiety.
In 2016, a large-scale experiment was conducted, in which 10262 people took part (81.71% of women and 18.29% of men, 87.32% of Caucasians and 12.68% of other races). Participants were patients with a variety of diagnoses in hospitals in hospitals in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. The essence of the experiment was that aromatherapy in the form of inhalations was included in the set of routine patient care procedures. The nurses used different essential oils (lavender, ginger, tangerine, or a mixture of them). As a result, patients noted a decrease in nausea, pain and anxiety [9] .
4. Mandarin essential oils inhibit the activity of Listeria innocua bacteria.
The antimicrobial properties of tangerine oil have been tested in a procedure to extend the shelf life of food products. The object used in this experiment was green string beans. 0.05% mandarin essential oil was added to the composition of the substance that provides protective functions and is designed to fight the Listeria innocua bacterium on the surface of vegetables. Together with other protective procedures, the effect of the substance with tangerine oil justified the hopes of researchers [10] .
Weight regulation
In sports supplements for weight loss, naringin is used, a flavonoid that is obtained from the peel of tangerines and grapefruits. Although it does not burn fat directly, its inclusion in preparations can suppress appetite, improve glucose metabolism and absorption of several components from the intestine.
Also in sports nutrition designed to burn fat, a substance called synephrine is widely used. It is believed that synephrine accelerates metabolism, mobilizes fat depot, enhances heat production and destroys fats by activating thermogenesis. This substance is often mentioned on the Internet in connection with the benefits of eating tangerines in programs aimed at weight correction.
However, such a reference requires significant clarifications:
• Firstly, the pharmacological effect has been proven for m-synephrine, and for its p-synephrine isomer (which is extracted from citruses), this effect has not yet been reliably confirmed.
Studies in 2004 suggest that some lipolytic effect of p-synephrine occurs only at high doses [11]
. In 2011, researchers studied the combination of p-synephrine with green tea extract and
caffeine, resulting in the contribution of synephrine to fat loss remained unknown, although the
scientists calculated that thanks to synephrine, the metabolic rate probably increased by 6.7% [12] .
• Secondly, p-synephrine is derived from bitter orange, not mandarin, although there is a mandarin-bitter orange hybrid that partially inherits the characteristics of both parents.
At the same time, mandarin itself, with its 30-55 kcal / 100 g, really belongs to low-calorie foods and, on this basis, becomes part of unloading short-term complex diets. For example, it is included in the 7-day diet, which involves eating 200 g of cottage cheese with tangerines four times a day. It is alleged that on such a diet for a week you can get rid of 3-5 "extra" kilograms. However, it should be borne in mind that tangerine fruits in the diet increase appetite, and it will be quite difficult to stay on a tangerine diet.
In cooking
In cooking, mandarin is popular both fresh and in jams, jams, syrups, compotes. When preparing jam, in addition to the pulp, zest is usually laid, which gives the dessert astringency and enhances the tangerine flavor.
As a spice, the fruits of this fruit are added to meat and fish dishes; numerous recipes for making tangerines with rice are known. At the same time, the mention of tangerines is usually included in the name of the dish as an "advertisement" of the taste: "Duck with tangerines", "Turkey escalopes in a tangerine marinade", "Red cabbage with tangerines stuffed with cloves", etc.
Aromatic citruses often become components of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Combinations of tangerines in champagne with star anise and cardamom, warmed wine with tangerines and lemongrass, tangerine-banana smoothies, etc. are popular. In China, pu-erh tea is made from Xinhui fruit. To do this, the top of the fruit is first cut off, then the pulp is partially removed, and tea leaves are poured into its place, which are filled with water. Tea brewed in this way is also covered on top with a "cap" from a previously cut top, resulting in a very fragrant citrus drink.
In cosmetology
In care cosmetics, mandarin extract is used, which is found in the compositions under synonymous names: Ext. Mandarin Orange, Mandarin Orange Fruit Extract, Citrus Nobilis Extract and others _ It exhibits mainly antiseptic properties - as an antibacterial agent, the extract fights acne pathogens. But the functions of tangerine extract in cosmetics are not limited to this.
• Tonic effect. Upon contact with the skin, the extract has a cooling and astringent effect. It stimulates local blood circulation, due to which the supply of oxygen to the skin improves, the firmness and elasticity of the skin increases.
• Anti-age. Intensive microcirculation also provides prevention of aging - prevents the formation of fine wrinkles.
• Whitening effect. In this role, the extract does not act as the main component, but is often added to brightening compositions, where, together with a more effective ingredient, it controls melanin biosynthesis, inhibiting the development of hyperpigmentation.
• Seborrhea regulation (for oily skin). The extract from tangerine peels eliminates peeling, tightens pores, reduces the secretion of sebaceous glands, which also favorably affects the appearance of the hair.
• perfume ingredient. The strong and pleasant smell of mandarin is often used in relaxing aromatherapy. In shampoos and soaps, it deodorizes hair and skin.
In home cosmetologists, masks, lotions, scrubs based not only on tangerine oils, but also on the zest and pulp of fresh citrus fruits are popular.
• Refreshing fruit pulp mask. Mandarin (1 pc.) Is peeled, the pulp of the fruit is stirred into a gruel, to which honey (1/2 tsp) or sour cream is added. 2-3 times a week, such a mask is applied to the face for a quarter of an hour, after which it is washed off with water.
• Scrub mask with tangerines and flakes. Mandarin pulp gruel (1 pc.) is mixed with heavy cream (1 tsp) and crushed barley flakes (1 tbsp). The scrub is applied to the face with massage movements, and then, after 15 minutes, is removed with a napkin.
• Toning peel mask. Dried tangerine peel is ground in a coffee grinder, after which 1 tbsp. l. of this powder is thoroughly mixed with egg yolk (1 pc.) And sour cream (1 tsp). The mask is applied to the entire face, except for the eye area, for 20 minutes.
• Lip balm with essential oil. Essential oil of mandarin (10 drops), palm oil (1/2 tsp) and cocoa butter (1/3 tsp) are added to beeswax (10 g) melted in a water bath. After mixing until smooth, the balm is applied to the lips before going out in windy or frosty weather.
• Hair Mask. Juice squeezed out of 2 tangerines is mixed with mustard (1 tablespoon) and applied for 20 minutes along the entire length of the hair. Then the mixture is washed off with water and shampoo. This mask eliminates dandruff and reduces sebaceous secretions.
Dangerous properties of mandarin and contraindications
In addition to the fact that mandarin, like most other citrus fruits, can cause allergic reactions, there are the following contraindications for including these fruits in your daily diet:
• Tangerines increase the level of acidity of gastric juice. For this reason, they can harm people with peptic ulcers and gastritis due to high acidity.
• As a food rich in glucose, mandarin (fruit) increases the concentration of sugar in the blood, which limits its use in diabetes.
• In the manufacture of extracts and infusions on tangerine peel, they contain a high content of naringin, which blocks some liver enzymes responsible for drug metabolism. Therefore, due to the unpredictable enhancement or prolongation of the pharmaceutical action of drugs, it is not recommended to take them simultaneously with tangerine peel extracts [13] .
• When applied topically, tangerine extract can potentially pose a risk to people with hypersensitive skin, rosacea, and rosacea. In addition, it can provoke phototoxic reactions: when ultraviolet rays hit the skin with tangerine extract applied to it, under the influence of free radicals, inflammatory processes can begin, accompanied by the death of individual cells. Therefore, in order not to reduce the resistance of cells to sunlight, it is better not to apply the extract before going out into the sun.
• Concentrated tangerine juice aggressively affects tooth enamel, so fresh juice lovers are advised to drink diluted juice through a straw.
Selection and storage
When choosing the best tangerines, you should focus on the country of origin, variety, and the compliance of the characteristics of the tangerine with the varietal criteria of the selected fruits.
• Spanish. The appearance and taste of tangerines largely depend on the variety, but usually hybrid varieties of clementine and murcott are brought from Spain. Clementine has a flattened shape at the "poles", a bright orange color and a delicate smell. The variety is sweet, although
not as sweet as murcott. Also, unlike murtotta, clementine is more juicy. Murcott is distinguished by its smaller size, dense partitions and a large number of small bones. Both varieties are very popular with consumers. Often, buyers, if they do not receive information about the variety and exporting country from the seller, look for small stickers on the peel. It is widely believed that on Spanish tangerines such stickers can be found on most fruits.
• Abkhaz. These tangerines, with their 70% mass fraction of juice, are considered the most juicy, and therefore are best suited for making fresh juices. They appear on sale only by the beginning of December, and until that time, under the guise of Abkhazian, they sell either Moroccan clementines or Turkish tangerines with green streaks visible on the peel. Abkhazian citruses are characterized by a bumpy matte peel, a persistent aroma that can be felt even in unpeeled fruits, and a minimum number of seeds.
• Moroccan. Another popular hybrid variety nadorcott is brought from Morocco more often than others. When fully ripe, the fruits of this variety are quite sweet (the sugar level reaches 1114%), but they are not always ripe, and compared to clementine and murcotta with a moderate acid content (up to 1.4%), they may seem more sour. The usually smooth (with sufficient moisture) reddish-orange peel of ripe fruits separates easily from the pulp. The fruits themselves are spherical, 5.5-6 cm in diameter. If the manufacturer managed to save tangerine trees from cross- pollination, then the fruits are obtained without seeds. The same variety is most often exported from South Africa.
• Turkish. As in previous cases, it all depends on the variety, but usually on the shelves are tangerines with a pale orange (or greenish-yellowish) thin and smooth peel. They have a slight acidity, moderate sweetness and juiciness, and are usually the lowest priced.
When buying tangerines, one should also not forget about the general rules for choosing any vegetables and fruits: there should be no dark spots and mold on the fruits, soft "failures" of rotting that have begun, the integrity of the peel should not be broken, and healed superficial cuts are also not allowed. Tangerines should look healthy overall, but slight abrasions or superficial scratches do not affect the taste and quality of the fruit. In addition, the shiny surface indicates, rather, not about the health of the fetus, but about the processing of the peel with protective wax by the supplier.
The freshness of tangerines is determined, first of all, by the density of the peel. In despised or stale fruits, it lags behind, and in fresh and timely harvested fruits, it adheres tightly to the fruit. At the same time, the presence of green leaves on the stalk is not considered an indicator of freshness. Leaves of tangerine trees may not fade for a long time, only drying out over time. However, a popular opinion among consumers is that citrus fruits with stalks are better stored, since this ensures the integrity of the peel at the attachment point.
Tangerines brought home from the store are rarely stored for a long time, and within a week they can be stored without creating special conditions at room temperature. If, nevertheless, it is necessary to make stocks for a longer period (up to a month), the fruits are put in a container that provides air circulation and removal of excess moisture (for example, a box made of perforated cardboard), and placed in a refrigerator or cellar with a temperature in the range of +4 -8°C and humidity of about 80%. Low humidity levels cause the fruit to dry out, and excess moisture in a tightly sealed plastic bag can cause rotting.
Some lovers of tangerines do not stock up for food, but then, during the year, use the fruit in traditional medicine recipes. But it must be borne in mind that the longer the citrus lies, the more useful properties it loses. So, for example, the concentration of oil in the peel of a tangerine after 4 months of storage is reduced by an average of 35%.
How to grow a tangerine from a seed at home
To grow a tangerine tree from a stone at home, you need to be patient and be prepared for unexpected results. Without human help, a mandarin may never bloom or bear fruit at all, remaining an ornamental plant. But if the fruits do set and grow, their taste and size will most likely differ from the fruit from which the stone was taken, and not always for the worse.
To speed up the growing process, for planting they try to choose seeds of hybrid varieties that germinate faster and bear fruit more often. Seeds are selected "chubby" (not dried), without blackening on the "nose". It is advisable to plant several (5-10) seeds at once, in order to then select the strongest sprouts. It is important, after removing the stone from the pulp, immediately put it in the soil at an approximate depth of 3-4 cm.
The soil will need not acidic with pH = 6.5-7 - without peat content. With self-preparation of the soil, the soil from under deciduous plants is mixed, rotted humus and sown sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 1.
You can even plant a bone in an ordinary plastic cup, in which a drainage hole has been made. Sometimes germination is practiced in a damp cloth (gauze), which is placed on a saucer in a warm place, out of direct sunlight.
Above the soil surface, tangerine sprouts may appear after 2 weeks, and after a month. However, they will germinate provided that they are regularly moistened and maintained in a temperature range of 2025 ° C of the environment. It is not recommended to create greenhouse conditions with a higher temperature, because the plant will have to get used to room conditions again, which complicates care.
If two sprouts appear from one tangerine seed, then either they are planted (with a separate root system), or the weaker one is pinned. The first transplantation of sprouts is carried out at the stage of the appearance of four leaves. The second - when the roots fill the entire volume of the cup (they do not immediately transfer it to a spacious pot to avoid the risk of waterlogging). Subsequent transplants of barren plants are carried out annually, and fruit-bearing plants - once every 2 or 3 years. During the fruiting period, the mandarin grown from the stone enters the 5-6th year.
In our country, mandarin has been and remains the main New Year and Christmas fruit, which, with its smell alone, can create a festive mood. But, besides this, as we now know, the aroma of this citrus helps relieve anxiety and muffle pain, and the fruits ensure the normal functioning of the digestive tract, which makes mandarin useful not only during the New Year celebrations.
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An extended HTML version of the article is available on the edaplus.info website. Mandarin - useful properties, composition and contraindications
Eliseeva Tatyana, editor-in-chief of the project EdaPlus.info Yampolsky Aleksey, nutritionist
E-mail: eliseeva.t@edaplus.info, yampolsky.a@edaplus.info
Received 12/26/19
Abstract. The article discusses the main properties of mandarin and its effect on the human body. A systematic review of modern specialized literature and relevant scientific data was carried out. The chemical composition and nutritional value of the fruit are indicated, the use of mandarin in various types of medicine and the effectiveness of its use in various diseases are considered. The potentially adverse effects of mandarin on the human body under certain medical conditions and diseases are analyzed separately. Considered scientific basics diets With his application.
