Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Efficacy of Bixaorellana: A Review

Bixa Orellana, commonly known as lipstick tree, is a small perennial tree with reddish triangular fruits. It is commonly utilised as a natural dye, which found a wide range of applications in both foods and textile industries. It is also used in traditional medicinal practices to treating various health ailments. This review aims to summarise the ethnobotanical, phytochemistry as well as the pharmacological potential of Bixa Orellana. It has been used for fever, skin problems, intestinal problems, and hepatoprotection by the various tribal communities worldwide. It is also employed as an antidote to bites and as an insect repellant. The phytochemical review demonstrated numerous bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, etc. The pharmacological investigations evidenced that the plant has excellent antimicrobial, antipyretic, antidiabetic, anticonvulsant, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. In addition, Bixa Orellana can be used as a photosensitiser in antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation therapy to eliminate micro-organisms. So, the pieces of evidence highlighted in this review will be helpful insights for further scientific studies for the discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents.

Assessment of analgesic and neuropharmacological activity of leaves of Bixa orellana (Family: Bixaceae)

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> <em>Bixa orellana</em> Linn, (Family: Bixaceae) commonly known as “Lipstick tree” have been extensively used traditional medicine in India and others part of the world to cure laxative, cardiotonic, hypotensive, expectorant, antibiotic, antipyretic, aphrodisaic etc. It has been found that <em>B. orellana</em> contains different phytochemical groups such as phenolic compounds, glycosides, tannins, steroids, alkaloids, saponins. The project work has been designed to investigate the phytochemical nature (group determination of plant constituents), analgesic and neuropharmacological activity of <em>B. orellana</em> leaves extract.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Analgesic activity of <em>B. orellana</em> was determined by acetic acid induced writhing, hot plate, tail immersion and paw tickling test/formalin induced nociceptor test. Open field, hole cross, tail suspension and light/dark box test were employed for the assessment of neuropharmacological activity of <em>B. orellana</em>. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of reducing sugar, alkaloids, glycosides, gum, terpenoids, tannins, steroids and flavonoids. In analgesic activity test, the sample showed significant analgesic activity. The dose-dependent neuropharmacological activity is shown in neuropharmacological activity test.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Our exploration suggests that <em>B. orellana</em> contains bioactive compounds and it should be studied further for isolation and purification of such novel compounds.</p>