PHOTOCHEMISTRY, TRADITIONAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL USES OF BIXA ORENALLA: A REVIEW

Kanchan B. Ghatge*, Sheetal K. Kamble, Dr. Sachin S. Mali, Pranil B. Toraskar, Samruddhi Patil and
Sakshi Patil

ABSTRACT

Bixa orellana has been used by indigenous communities in Brazil and other tropical countries for several biological applications, which indicates its potential use as an active ingredient in pharmaceutical products. Bixa having great agroindustrial value because its seeds have a high carotenoid content, mainly bixin. BIxa is commercially known as annatto and It is currently used as a natural pigment in the food, in pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. several studies have addressed the biological and medical properties of this natural pigment, both as potential source of new drugs or because its ingestion as a condiment or diet supplement may protect against several diseases. The most documented properties are anti-oxidative; but its anti-cancer, hypoglucemic, antibiotic and antiinflammatory properties are also being studied. Bixin’s pathway elucidation and its regulation mechanisms are critical to improve the produce of this important carotenoid. Even though the bixin pathway has been established, the regulation of the genes involved in bixin production remains largely unknown.

Keywords: anti-cancer, hypoglucemic, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory.