Citrus aurantium L. is widely used for stimulating the energetic metabolism of the organism, enhancing breakdown of fat; supposed mechanism of this effect is the stimulation, through the action of major bioactive compound synephrine, of the release of noradrenaline (a stress hormone) at beta-3 receptor sites, thus inducing biochemical reactions that increase the rate of fat breakdown (lipolysis) and resting metabolic rate (thermogenesis).