Synephrine

Synephrine as found in many weight loss formulas

Synephrine, is the main "active" compound found in the fruit of a plant called Citrus aurantium. The fruit is also known as zhi shi (in traditional Chinese medicine), and bitter orange. Synephrine is chemically very similar to the ephedrine and pseudo-ephedrine found in many OTC cold/allergy medications and in a number of weight loss and energy supplements. But synephrine differs from ephedrine in that synephrine targets some tissues such as fat, more than it targets others such as the heart. A non-selective sympathomimetic (like ephedra which targets many tissues equally and thus often causes side effects).

Synephrine in Citrus aurantium extract has no effect on heart rate and blood pressure

Unlike ephedra, research has shown that Citrus aurantium extract has no effect on heart rate and blood pressure. For example, although some high-dose ephedra-containing supplements have been associated with certain cardiovascular side effects as elevated blood pressure and heart palpitations, researchers at Mercer University in Atlanta have shown that Citrus aurantium extract (because it targets fat tissue rather than heart tissue) has no effect on hemodynamics such as heart rate and blood pressure.

Claims:

• Increases metabolic rate
• Increases caloric expenditure
• Fat burner
• Promotes weight loss
• Increases energy levels

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Citrus Aurantium (bitter orange or zhi shi) is an herb that contains the active ingredient synephrine (it also contains other potent compounds like octopamine and tyramine). This is touted as an ephedra alternative.  It is ephedrine’s calmer chemical cousin which means it still has beta agonistic (thermogenic/fat burning) effects while being less stimulating to the central nervous system.  Similar doses as compared to ephedrine may be effective (20 mg of active synephrine after standardization per serving).  There is definitely more research on ephedrine and caffeine combinations for fat loss but one good study published in the Current Therapeutic Research journal in 1999 showed that a combination of citrus aurantium extract, caffeine and St John’s Wort caused significant body fat loss in overweight healthy adults. (synephrine was the key here).  Other research has looked at the thermogenic properties of compounds found in citrus aurantium including synephrine and the results are very promising.