Abstract

The seeds of Bixa orellana are used in popular medicine as a hypolipidemic drug. This study evaluated the antilipidemic activity of ethanolic and hexane extracts from seeds of B. orellana in dyslipidemic rats. Dyslipidemia was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of Triton WR1339 in male Wistar rats. The animals were treated with the ethanolic and hexane extracts of Bixa orellana. Plasma levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined by enzymatic methods. The ethanolic and hexane extracts from seeds of B. orellana reduced TG, TC and LDL-C and increased HDL-C in dyslipidemic rats. The treatments did not promote hepatic toxicity. The data showed that treatment with B. orellana extracts decreased plasma lipids in dyslipidemic rats.

Key words: Bixa orellana, annatto, dyslipidemia.