High cholesterol: The food to lower cholesterol by 40% – 'more effective than some drugs'

PMFs are found in a variety of citrus fruit, with the most common form of the antioxidants found in the peels of tangerines, and oranges.

The study found the compounds showed promise as an effective and natural alternative for lowering LDL cholesterol.

Published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the findings also established that PMFs shared marked similarities to a host of other plant compounds found in citrus fruit, that are linked to many health benefits.

Separate research has shown a positive relationship between similar flavonoids, such as hesperidin, found in oranges and naringin from grapefruit.