Placer County mandarin grower Joanne Neft wants to confirm a theory that the diminutive fruit is a natural allergy treatment, according to a story in the Colfax Journal. She raised more than $20,000 to fund a USDA analysis of mandarins grown in the county that will determine how much natural synephrine the mandarins contain and how long the substance can last when frozen.

According to the story, synephrine is a decongestant. Curiously, Wikipedia doesn't mention the compound's decongestant properties in its synephrin entry, but says synephrin is a drug for weight loss derived from Citrus aurantium, also known as bitter orange.

According to the Colfax Journal story, Neft said she initially heard from a mandarin grower that synephrine is found in mandarins, based on what his grandfather had heard from a UC Davis scientist.

For the story, reporter Gus Thomson also spoke to UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor Cindy Fake. Fake said a scientific "stamp of approval" on mandarins could help local farming because of the public’s interest in health and nutrition.

An allergy-fighting mandarin, she said, could give the citrus fruit a sales boost like high antioxidants have given blueberries.

“People would like to find out that something they already love to eat is not only a healthy piece of fruit but has healthy substances that can lessen the impact of colds and allergies,” Fake is quoted.

The Sacramento CBS television news affiliate also did a story on mandarins' potential to fight allergies.