The flavonoid hesperidin is a flavanone glycoside comprised of the flavanone hesperidin and the disaccharide rutinose. Hesperidin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, hypolipidemic, vasoprotective and anti-carcinogenic activities.

The anti-inflammatory action is due in part to hesperidin interfering with the metabolism of arachidonic acid (the primary inflammatory fatty acid) and interference with histamine release.

Hesperidin also appears to inhibit phospholipase A2, lipoxygenase (LOX) and cyclo-oxygenase (COX) inflammatory enzymes.

Evidence also shows that hesperidin inhibits histamine release from mast cells, which accounts for the anti-allergy affect.