金柑屬於柑桔類 (citrus fruits) 中之金柑屬 (Fortunella)，其果皮以乙酸乙酯萃取後，萃取物清除氫氧自由基的能力 (IC50 = 20.02 ± 1.18 μg dry wt. extract / ml) 比清除超氧陰離子 (IC50 = 144 ± 1.24 μg dry wt. extract / ml) 強。金桔果皮萃取物具有誘導小鼠肝癌細胞Hepa 1c1c7產生NAD (P) H: quinone reductase (QR) 活性的能力，其CD值 (提昇酵素活性兩倍時所需加入萃取物的濃度) 為50 μg dry wt. extract / ml。利用12-O- tetradecanoylphorbol- 13-acetate (TPA) 誘導小鼠耳朵持續發炎，並將相當於金柑果皮400或600 mg乾物萃取液塗抹於ICR老鼠耳朵，發現抑制耳朵腫脹程度分別達41.57和71.72%。分析耳朵組織內促發炎激素含量，發現萃取物可抑制促發炎激素TNF-α, IL-1β和IL-6含量之增加，其中對TNF-α的抑制率分別為68.97和82.76%，對IL-1β的抑制率為67.28和83.27%，對IL-6的抑制率則為60.50和71.50%。金柑果皮萃取物可抑制TPA誘發黏附分子 (E- Selectin, P- Selectin, ICAM及VCAM)、單核細胞趨化蛋白 (MCP-1) 及基質金屬蛋白酶 (MMP-9) 含量之增加，該萃取物也抑制了TPA誘發前列腺素E2 (prostaglandin E2; PGE2)、血栓素 (thromboxane B2; TXB2) 及白三烯素B4 (leukotrienes B4; LTB4) 含量的增加，顯示金柑果皮萃取物會影響花生四烯酸的代謝。

Kumquat is one kind of citrus fruits, belonging to the genus Fortunella. The •OH scavenging capacity (IC50 = 20.02 ± 1.18 μg dry wt. extract /ml) of the ethyl acetate extract of freeze-dried peel of kumquat was higher than that of scavenging O2•¯ (IC50 = 144 ± 1.24 μg dry wt. extract /ml). The extract was also effective on inducing quinone reductase in murine hepatoma (Hepa 1c1c7) cells, and CD value (concentration of an inducer that doubles specifc activity of quinone reductase in Hepa1c1c7 murine hepatoma cells) was 50 μg dry wt. extract /ml. The inhibitory effects of the kumquat extract on infammation were evaluated using the 12-O- tetradecanoylphorbol-13- acetate (TPA)- treated mouse ears. Topical application of kumquat extract from 400 and 600 mg freeze-dried peels inhibited TPA-induced edema by 41.57 and 71.72%, respectively. The same treatment also inhibited TPA-induced increase of the TNF-α level by 68.96 and 82.76%, of the IL-1β level by 67.28 and 83.27%, and of the IL-6 level by 60.50 and 71.50%, respectively. In addition, the levels of biomarkers associated with cardiovascular, such as E-Selectin, P-Selectin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, MCP-1 and MMP-9, were all signifcantly inhibited. The kumquat extract also infuenced arachidonic acid metabolism. This observation was substantiated by decreased amounts of arachidonic acid metabolites prostaglandin E2,
thromboxane B2 and leukotriene B4 levels.