bixin
Bixin constitutes the main pigment of the industrial annatto obtained from the seed coat of Bixa orellana [34]. This phytochemical belongs to the relatively small family of apocarotenoids; it was the first cis-carotenoid to be isolated from natural sources [35].
However, it was not until 1961 that its chemical structure and stereochemistry were determined through nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies [36].
This phytochemical compound shows pleiotropic bioactivities with health-promoting properties. It was recently demonstrated that bixin caused arrest of Hep3B cell line at G2/M checkpoint of the cell cycle and the molecular mechanism of action was demonstrated by a modeling study, which was based in the favorable binding of bixin to domains of Bax BH3 and FasL proteins [37].
Consequently, bixin should be used for developing agents to combat human hepatocellular carcinoma. Bixin is also a potent activator of the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), which is the master regulator of the cellular antioxidant response protecting the skin against various environmental stressors including UV radiation and electrophilic pollutants [38, 39, 40].
The protective effects against solar UV-induced skin damage are due to the NRF2-dependence of bixin-induced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects [39].
In addition, bixin displays molecular activities as antioxidant, excited-state quencher, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α/γ agonist, and Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cell antagonist. Together, these bioactivities may be important to the improvement of skin barrier function and environmental stress protection [40].
However, it was not until 1961 that its chemical structure and stereochemistry were determined through nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies [36].
This phytochemical compound shows pleiotropic bioactivities with health-promoting properties. It was recently demonstrated that bixin caused arrest of Hep3B cell line at G2/M checkpoint of the cell cycle and the molecular mechanism of action was demonstrated by a modeling study, which was based in the favorable binding of bixin to domains of Bax BH3 and FasL proteins [37].
Consequently, bixin should be used for developing agents to combat human hepatocellular carcinoma. Bixin is also a potent activator of the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), which is the master regulator of the cellular antioxidant response protecting the skin against various environmental stressors including UV radiation and electrophilic pollutants [38, 39, 40].
The protective effects against solar UV-induced skin damage are due to the NRF2-dependence of bixin-induced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects [39].
In addition, bixin displays molecular activities as antioxidant, excited-state quencher, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α/γ agonist, and Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cell antagonist. Together, these bioactivities may be important to the improvement of skin barrier function and environmental stress protection [40].
