Biocitro is a product with antioxidant (free radical scavenger) and prolonged anti-microbial properties which has been developed by Quinabra as a state of the art environmentally friendly organic ingredient.

Composition of Biocitro:
Ascorbic acid and ascorbates - vitamin C with high bio-availability;
Citrus bioflavonoids - vitamin P;
Citrus fatty acids;
Bio-flavoproteins, citrus sugars, citrus polyphenols.

What is high bio-availability Ascorbic Acid?
It is an ascorbic acid containing natural protectors called bioflavonoids. Therefore it has a greater availability of being adsorbed without suffering changes or oxidation.

What are Bioflavonoids?
Bioflavonoids are natural polyphenols found in fruit and vegetables. High concentrations of bioflavonoids are found in citrus fruit. Citrus bioflavonoids act as natural protectors of ascorbic acid preventing oxidation.

Biocitro TECHNOLOGY
Synergetic Action between Ascorbic Acid and Citrus Bioflavonoids.

The bioflavonoids protect the ascorbic acid (vitamin C) against natural degradation and oxidation caused by humidity, air and light. Because of Quinabra's special fabrication process the ascorbic acid in Biocitro is highly stable and has a high level of bio-availability which permits the use of Biocitro as an ingredient in various formulas with Anti-microbial and antioxidant Noble action.

Because of this high level of bio-availability the use of Biocitro ascorbic Acid is better than that of simple ascorbic acid which is subject to rapid degradation and oxidation.

Ascorbic acid works better in Redox (Reduction and Oxidation) processes in the animal organism, being converted by means of a reversible reaction, with the release of Hydrogen, into Dehydroascorbic Acid which is capable of oxidizing other metabolic products by capturing Hydrogen ions.

Recent investigations have confirmed that ascorbic acid participates in enzymatically controlled hydroxylation reactions in microsomal metabolism of the cells in the form of Semi-Dehydroascorbic Acid and in this manner exerts its physiological functions.

The high reduction power of ascorbic acid is proportional to its stabilizing power of potentially oxidizable substances (e.g. adrenaline). There are important metabolic relationships between vitamin C and other vitamins and enzymes which manifest themselves in different ways (synergetic or inhibitors) The anti-infectious activity based principally on the inhibition of toxins is possibly connected with these reactions.

Synergetic action between ascorbic acid and citrus bioflavonoids
Due to its powerful reducing property ascorbic acid is capable of destroying nitrates, nitrate oxide and other nitrogen compounds which are found in raw materials, drinking water, in animal feed and in the atmosphere and is able to restrict both endogenously and exogenously the formation of very carcinogenic nitrosamines.

Bioflavonoids are very potent antioxidants and free radical scavengers. Thus, they are cyto-protective in situations where oxidizing substances and free radicals cause cell damage. The antioxidant action of bioflavonoids is five times greater than that of Ascorbic Acid and Tocopherols (Vitamin E).

Bioflavonoids inhibit the in vitro oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL) by macrophages and reduce the cyto-toxicity of the oxidized LDL.

Bioflavonoids inhibit carcinogenic chemicals in rodents and the growth of skin cancer in rats.

Bioflavonoids scavenge free radicals involved in cell damage and subsequent tumor development.

Bioflavonoids exhibit anti-fungal properties against Candida albicans and have been used to treat influenza viral infections in mice. As part of the Vitamin P group they are commonly used in medicine to reduce the fragility of the vascular capillaries and restore their normal permeability. On the other hand, bioflavonoids have demonstrated analgesic, diuretic and antibiotic activity.

Bioflavonoids in combination with derivatives of vitamin C demonstrate synergetic effects in preserving the flavor of food and drinks.

Biocitro contains the following kind of bioflavonoids;

Naringin, Hesperedin, Quercetin, Rutin and Tangeretin.

The bioflavonoids extracted from Citrus Fruits are:
Citrus grapefruit (citrus paradisi);
Citrus orange sweet (citrus sinensis);
Citrus tangerine (citrus reticulata).

Noble properties of Biocitro:
Biodegradable;
Non-toxic;
Non-corrosive;
Non-volatile;
Prolonged anti-microbial action;
Antioxidant;
Increases the lifespan of products.

Compatibility:
Biocitro is efficient in the presence of organic matter and both acid and alkaline pHs;
It has a pH of between 2.0 and 3.5;
It is compatible only with non-ionic and cationic substances

Spectrum of Biocitro Activity:
Biocitro is effective against numerous gram+ and gram- pathogenic bacteria as well as fungi. It also possesses antioxidant properties.

BACTERIA: Bacillus subtilis, Brucella abortus, Clostridium sp., Corynebacterium equi, Diplococcus pneumoniae, Erwinia carotovora, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes, Mycobacterium sp., Pasteurella multocida, Proteus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Salmonella sp., Shigella dysenteriae, Staphylicoccus sp., Streptococcus sp., Xanthomonas sp.

FUNGI: Aspergillus sp., Candida sp., Chantomium globosum, Cladosporidium resinae, Epidermophytum flocosum, Fusarium moniliforma, Penicillium funiculosum.

Toxicology Studies:
Biocitro doesn't affect molecular DNA, is non-mutagenic and non carcinogenic according to studies carried out by the Toxicology Reference Laboratory Services"Xenometrix Inc"Denver Colorado USA using Molecular Toxicology techniques; Pro-Tox, Bacterial Stress Gene Assay, Cat-Tox, Human Liver Cell Stress Gene Assay, Ames II (complete) Salmonella Mutagenesis Assay.

Oral Toxicity: DL50 Over 5000 mg/kg of live weight.

Skin Toxicity: It doesn't cause skin irritations and it is not corrosive, but it can produce allergic reactions in sensitive people.

Eye irritation: The liquid form of the product in its pure state causes severe irritation with some cornea damage. Concentrations of 0.5,1.0, and 2.0 % cause irritation and some itchiness.

Internal Ingestion: causes damage to mucous.

Biodegradable in accordance with the Standard Test Methods for Determining the Anaerobic Biodegradable Potential of Organic Chemicals ASTM Standards Section 11 Water and Environment Technology Produce E 1196-2 Pages 879-901 1993.