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Dr. Kim Mulvihill reporting A type of tangerine may provide more than delicious flavor. Scientists are looking into claims a chemical in the fruit may fight allergies.
You might call it the miracle mandarin.
Joanne Neft said, "It's a natural remedy for symptoms from allergies or the common cold. You can just pop them and you'll feel better."
Joanne believes in the "Placer Country Grown Fruit" so strongly she raised more than $20,000 to fund a study in Albany, Calif., at the U.S.D.A. Agricultural Research Service.
Andrew Breksa said, "We conducted an analysis. I'm a chemist, and we looked at the molecules associated with this health benefit."
The ultimate goal: To determine whether the California fruit has power to stop runny nose.
Neft said, "We took mandarins from 10 different orchards and at various elevations and various locations throughout the country."
Local growers provided mandarins every month for the study. Early results show the little, sweet fruit has a significant amount of naturally-occuring chemical believed to fight allergy and cold symptoms.
The chemical is called synephrine.
Breksa said, "The next big step now that we've identified that it's in the tangerines: if you eat these tangerines, will it help you get over your cold symptoms? "
"You know, to me it's no surprise. We always felt good. We swore by them. We've always felt healthy, but it's nice to have the science to back it up now."
Placer County is currently home to more than 60 mandarin orchards. But with the promising USDA study almost complete, Neft hopes this is just the beginning.
"My vision is that mandarins will be to Placer County like grapes are to Napa Valley," she said.
E-mail: drkim@ksl.com
