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Grapefruit seed extract (GSE), also known by the brand name citricidal, a quaternary liquid derived from the seeds, pulp, and white membranes of grapefruit. It is used as a broad spectrum, non-toxic, antimicrobial compound that comes in two forms; a liquid and a powder.
This extract is often prescribed by practitioners of alternative medicine for its antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties. Nutritionists recommend it for the treatment of candidiasis, earache, throat infections, diarrhea, as well as many other ailments.
History
GSE was developed by Dr. Jacob Harich (1919–1996), a physicist born out of Yugoslavia in 1919 and educated in Germany. His studies in nuclear physics was interrupted by World War II. After a traumatizing experience as a fighter pilot, Harich devoted his life to improving the human condition. Harich began the study of the grapefruit seed in 1963 after moving to Florida, the heart of grapefruit country. By 1990 many holistic health practitioners began prescribing GSE to their patients. In 1995 Harich was invited as a guest of honor to the Pasteur Institute of France, a leading AIDS research center, where researchers have been testing the extracts potential as a prophylactic against the HIV virus as well as secondary infections associated with AIDS. Harich was honored by European farmers who use the powdered form of GSE in fish and poultry feed to control Salmonella and Escherichia coli.
Science
GSE kills micro–organisms by disolving their cell walls, as stated by Dr. Sung-Hwan of Abcom Chemi Co., LTD:
- Considering all the electron micrographs, we believe that the microbial uptake of GSE alters the cell membrane (the envelope surrounding living cells) by inhibiting enzymatic activities...You can see the loss of cytoplasmic membrane.
Dr. Roger Wyatt, professor at the University of Georgia also found the deactivation of the cytoplamic membranes of bacteria while performing research on GSE as an organic disinfectant:
- The lack of significant toxicological properties of GSE is also impressive when one views the efficacy data...extremely small concentrations of the product can be used with marked beneficial results.
The mechanism by which GSE affects the cell membranes of such a diverse group of microbes without virtually any toxicity to animal life will prove to be a very interesting study.
Claims for an antimicrobial effect in GSE are supported by scientific in vitro assays such as the agar diffusion test , , .
General Use
GSE has been shown to be highly effective again a broad spectrum of bacteria, including Staphyloccus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Psudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigelia dysenteriae, Legionella pneumoniae, Clostridium tetani, Deploccus pneumoniae, and many others. It is also a strong inhibitor of pathogenic fungi and yeast.
- mouth and lips: mouthwash, mouth ulcers, thrush, bad breath, cracked lips, sunburns, cold sores
- nose and sinuses: sinusitis, runny nose (rhinitis)
- throat: soar throat, tonsillitis, coughs, laryngitis
- ears: ear cleaning, earaches, otitis media
- skin: small cuts, abrations, burns, rashes, dermatitis, psoriasis, shingles, eczema, bites and stings, leg ulcers, warts, skin fungi
- feet: athelete's foot, corns, blisters, nail fungi, cuticular infections
- genitals: vaginitis, yeast infections, vaginal parasites, other fungal and parasitic diseases
- colds and influenza
- acute and chronic inflammations
- scalp and hair: shampoo, dandruff, head lice
- gastrointestinal infections
- Candida albicans and other fungal diseases
- allergies
Preperation
GSE is prepared by grinding grapefrute seeds into a fine powder which is dissolved into purified water and distilled to remove fiber and pectin. The distilled aqueous solution is spray dried at a low temperature forming a grapefruit bioflavonoid concentrate powder. The powder is then dissolved in vegetable glycerin and heated while food grade ammonium chloride and ascorbic acid are added. The mixture is pressure cooked, undergoing catalytic conversion using enzymes and hydrochloric acid. This slurry is then cooled, filtered and treated with ultraviolet light. Standardized GSE contains 60% grapefruit extract and 40% vegetable glycerin.
For most applications of GSE, 15 drops in 8 oz of water is used.
Precautions and Side Effects
GSE has been shown to be non-toxic in doses many times greater than recommended. Even when regularly overdosed, GSE seldom produces a noticable allergic reaction. However, people who are allergic to citris fruits should exercise caution using GSE and should consult their physician preceeding any treatment.
Generally GSE is very acidic, with a ph of 2, compared to the human body at a ph of 7.5 and water at 7. The acidity of GSE can irritate biological tissues if not dilluted properly.
References
- Sims, Judith Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Gale Group, 2001.
- Sharamon, S., Baginski, B.J. The Healing Power of Grapefruit Seed. Lotus Press, Wisconsin. 1996. ISBN 0914955276
- Sachs, A. The Authoritative Guide to Grapefruit Seed Extract : Stay Healthy Naturally: A Natural Alternative for Treating Colds, Infections, Herpes, Candida and Many Other Ailments. LifeRhythm, Medocino, California, 1997. ISBN 0940795175
- Sakamoto, S., Sato, K., Maitani, T., Yamada, T. Analysis of components in natural food additive “grapefruit seed extract” by HPLC and LC/MS. Bull. Natl. Inst. Health Sci. 1996, 114:38–42.
- von Woedtke, T., Schlüter, B., Pflegel, P., Lindequist, U.; Jülich, W.-D. Aspects of the antimicrobial efficacy of grapefruit seed extract and its relation to preservative substances contained. Pharmazie 1999 54:452–456.
- Takeoka, G., Dao, L., Wong, R.Y., Lundin, R., Mahoney N. Identification of benzethonium chloride in commercial grapefruit seed extracts. J Agric Food Chem. 2001 49(7):3316–20
- Takeoka, G.R., Dao, L.T., Wong, R.Y., Harden L.A. Identification of benzalkonium chloride in commercial grapefruit seed extracts. J Agric Food Chem. 2005 53(19):7630–6
- Eleraky, N.Z., Potgieter, L.N., Kennedy, M.A. Virucidal efficacy of four new disinfectants. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2002 38(3):231–4
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