Bixa orellana (Woukou) : medicinal properties in alcoholic extraction

Bixa orellana (Woukou, Roucou) — family Bixacées.

Scientific synonyms : Bixa acuminata-Bijer, B americana-Poir tinctoria-S, B Orellana americana-Kuntze, Orellana orellana-(l)-Kuntze.

Recognised external sources linked to this monograph: TRAMIL.

This database documents alcoholic (ethanol) extractions of active substances. Our monograph currently lists 14 indications in alcoholic extraction for this species. The Lapo v2 catalogue records 82 scientific references for this species (full detail in the application).

Important — scientific references on this public page: only a short excerpt of each cited source is shown (selected abstract sentences), kept in the original language of the publication (most often English), without translation. These excerpts are not the full article text and are not a complete bibliography. The full reference records and complete monographic detail are available in the Lapo v2 application (free 30-day trial).

1. 1

   Normalisation of serum parameters (AST, ALT)

   Plant part used: Sheet.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Obidah W (2011)

     Excerpt Pretreatment with BO seed oil (10%) resulted in significant (p<0.05) reduction in serum liver marker enzymes activities, total bilirubin concentration, lipid peroxidation & relative liver weights induced by CCl4 administration. The effects of pretreatment with Bixa orellana seed oil on CCl4-induced liver damage were determined in male Wister rats (150±10g).

   • According to Gatsou Djibersou D (2020)

     Excerpt Bixa orellana is a plant from the Bixaceae family, for which, limited information is available on hepatoprotective properties. After treatment, animals were sacrificed, the liver was collected & different biochemical parameters were measured.

   • According to Lopez CP (2017)

     Excerpt This study identified the phytochemicals present in aqueous & ethanolic Bixa orellana leaf extracts & investigated the hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Specifically, the study compared serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) & examined liver tissues histopathology.

   • According to Valentin SA (2013)

     Excerpt The seeds of Bixa orellana are used in popular medicine as a hypolipidemic drug. The animals were treated with the ethanolic & hexane extracts of B orellana.

   • According to Sales P.F (2023)

     Excerpt Moench, Euterpe oleracea Martius & Bixa orellana Linné, have pharmacological activities. The species showed great bioactive activity attributed to their oils, especially in the anti-hypercholesterolemic activity, which can be explained by several pathways of gene expression mechanisms such as the interaction of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), hepatic X receptors (LXRs), hepatic nuclear factor-4 (HNF4) receptors & sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) that act on lipid modulation.

2. 2

   Hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease

   Plant part used: Sheet.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Valentin SA (2013)

     Excerpt The seeds of Bixa orellana are used in popular medicine as a hypolipidemic drug. The animals were treated with the ethanolic & hexane extracts of B orellana.

   • According to Lopez CP (2017)

     Excerpt This study identified the phytochemicals present in aqueous & ethanolic Bixa orellana leaf extracts & investigated the hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Microscopic examination of the liver tissues assessed the extent of hepatic injury.

   • According to Gatsou Djibersou D (2020)

     Excerpt Bixa orellana is a plant from the Bixaceae family, for which, limited information is available on hepatoprotective properties. Conclusion: These results show that infusion from BO barks is hepatoprotective against APAP-induced toxicity via antioxidant & anti-inflammatory mechanism,.

   • According to Obidah W (2011)

     Excerpt The effects of pretreatment with Bixa orellana seed oil on CCl4-induced liver damage were determined in male Wister rats (150±10g). Pretreatment with BO seed oil (10%) resulted in significant (p<0.05) reduction in serum liver marker enzymes activities, total bilirubin concentration, lipid peroxidation & relative liver weights induced by CCl4 administration.

   • According to Sales P.F (2023)

     Excerpt Moench, Euterpe oleracea Martius & Bixa orellana Linné, have pharmacological activities. The species showed great bioactive activity attributed to their oils, especially in the anti-hypercholesterolemic activity, which can be explained by several pathways of gene expression mechanisms such as the interaction of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), hepatic X receptors (LXRs), hepatic nuclear factor-4 (HNF4) receptors & sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) that act on lipid modulation.

3. 3

   Bacterial infection: Bacillus subtilis, S. aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, E. coli, Serratia marcescens

   Plant part used: Sheet.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Mathur A (2010)

     Excerpt & Spilanthes americana were evaluated against five bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus hemolytic, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli & fungus Candida albicans. The antimicrobial activity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of various plant extracts in different solvents such as ethanol (98%), hexane (99%) and distilled water of plants traditionally used as medicines as Bidens pilosa L., Bixa orellana L., Cecropia peltata L., Cinchona officinalis L., Gliricidia sepium, Jacaranda mimosifolia, Justicia secunda Vahl., Piper pulchrum, P.

   • According to Rojas JJ (2006)

     Excerpt & Spilanthes americana Hiéron were evaluated against five bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus beta Hemolytic, Bacillus Cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, & Escherichia coli), and one Yeast (Candida albicans). Furthermore, Bixa orellana L, Justicia secunda & Piper pulchrum presented the lowest MICs against Escherichia coli (0.8, 0.6 & 0.6 microg/ml, respectively) compared to Gentamycin sulfate (0.9 8 g/ml).

   • According to Irobi ON (1996)

     Excerpt The extract (5 mg/ml) produced antimicrobial action in agar diffusion assays against standard strains of Gram-positive bacteria including Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, & Streptococcus faecalis while exerting only slight action against Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Candida utilis, & Aspergillus Niger. An organic extract of Annatto (Bixa orellana) leaves obtained in 95% ethanol was examined for in vitro antifungal and antibacterial activity using the agar diffusion and tube dilution methods.

   • According to Alim S (2016)

     Excerpt Methanolic leaf extracts of B orellana were analyzed for their antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria including Gram positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Sarcina lutea & Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus vulgaris) by disc diffusion assay. The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro antibacterial activity of Bixa orellana against some pathogenic bacterial strains & compare with some standard antibiotics.

   • According to Author (2014)

     Excerpt Published research studies in animals indicate that various extracts of Bixa leaves exhibit antioxidant, broad antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal), anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hypoglycemic, and antidiarrheal activities. Bixa orellana leaf preparations have been used for many years by indigenous people for a variety of medicinal applications.

Further indications (including other extraction modes where applicable), dosages, precautions for use, and the <strong>full scientific references</strong> (complete records, not only the short excerpts above) are available in the complete monographic record in the Lapo v2 application.