Auraptene, a Heat-Protective Compound Derived from Hassaku Orange

With the recent rise in extremely hot summer days, the incidence of heatstroke has become a major public health concern.
Heatstroke is a condition caused by the body’s inability to regulate temperature under prolonged exposure to high heat and humidity, leading to excessive internal heat accumulation. It can occur not only outdoors but also indoors, even without physical activity, and in severe cases may result in death.

In response to this growing social issue, Toyo University is promoting the Hassaku Project—a collaborative effort among industry, government, academia, and the financial sector—to explore practical solutions for heat resilience.

The research team at Toyo University has identified numerous plant-derived compounds that protect vascular endothelial cells from heat-induced damage. Among them, auraptene, abundantly present in the peel of the Hassaku citrus fruit, showed strong protective activity.
The team obtained a patent for a “composition for the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of heatstroke.”
Clinical studies further confirmed that auraptene helps protect heat-sensitive blood vessels and contributes to building a body more resistant to heat stress.