Anti-Obesity and Anti-Steatotic Effects of Bixin (Apocarotenoid from <i>Bixa orellana</i> L. Seeds): Dose-Dependent Correlations with Bioactivity

Annatto, a tropical shrub from Central and South America and parts of India, contains Bixin, an apocarotenoid pigment. Bixin is conventionally used as a natural food colorant and is now receiving attention for its health-promoting nutraceutical properties, particularly in chronic diseases (metabolic...

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Main Authors: Sonakshi Puri, Sumit Kumar Mandal, Pankaj Kumar Sharma, P. R. Deepa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Biology and Life Sciences Forum
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9976/38/1/4
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author Sonakshi Puri
Sumit Kumar Mandal
Pankaj Kumar Sharma
P. R. Deepa
author_facet Sonakshi Puri
Sumit Kumar Mandal
Pankaj Kumar Sharma
P. R. Deepa
author_sort Sonakshi Puri
collection DOAJ
description Annatto, a tropical shrub from Central and South America and parts of India, contains Bixin, an apocarotenoid pigment. Bixin is conventionally used as a natural food colorant and is now receiving attention for its health-promoting nutraceutical properties, particularly in chronic diseases (metabolic syndrome—MetS—and cancers). This study investigates the dose-dependent anti-obesity and anti-steatotic effects of Bixin in in vitro cell culture models. The anti-adipogenic and anti-steatotic effects of Bixin were examined in well-established in vitro models of obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD/steatosis) using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes (by a differentiation protocol) and HepG2cells (steatosis-induced with oleic acid), respectively. Bixin was administered in the following concentration range: 1 μg mL<sup>−1</sup>–20 μg mL<sup>−1</sup> (obesity model) and 2.5 μg mL<sup>−1</sup>–10 μg mL<sup>−1</sup> (NAFLD/steatosis model). The neutral lipid content was estimated by Oil Red O staining; ROS/RNS were quantified by 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) and nitrite assays; and malondialdehyde (MDA), the biochemical marker of lipid peroxidation, was assessed by TBARS assay. At lower concentrations, 5 μg mL<sup>−1</sup> in steatotic cells and 10 μg mL<sup>−1</sup> in matured adipocytes, Bixin significantly reduced lipid accumulation in both hepatocytes and adipocytes (<i>p</i> < 0.05), demonstrating its potential as an anti-steatotic and anti-obesity agent. This beneficial effect was correlated with a reduction in oxidative stress levels (decreased MDA and ROS/RNS levels). Strikingly, at higher concentrations (>10 μg mL<sup>−1</sup>), Bixin showed increased lipid accumulation and oxidative stress. Bixin exhibits anti-obesity and anti-steatotic effects at lower doses, which correlates with its antioxidant properties. However, its bioactivity is dose-dependent, meaning that at higher concentrations, it ceases to inhibit adipogenesis. This opposing response is accompanied by elevated oxidative stress levels, indicating a pro-oxidant effect at higher doses, which suggests its anti-cancer potential. The present study highlights the significance of dosage optimization of nutraceuticals and dietary ingredients with respect to their intended biological applications, such as MetS and cancer treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-93bf3cfc6953463da77a26c1200c426c2025-08-20T03:43:11ZengMDPI AGBiology and Life Sciences Forum2673-99762024-12-01381410.3390/blsf2024038004Anti-Obesity and Anti-Steatotic Effects of Bixin (Apocarotenoid from <i>Bixa orellana</i> L. Seeds): Dose-Dependent Correlations with BioactivitySonakshi Puri0Sumit Kumar Mandal1Pankaj Kumar Sharma2P. R. Deepa3Biochemistry and Enzyme Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani 333 031, Rajasthan, IndiaBiochemistry and Enzyme Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani 333 031, Rajasthan, IndiaBiochemistry and Enzyme Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani 333 031, Rajasthan, IndiaBiochemistry and Enzyme Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani 333 031, Rajasthan, IndiaAnnatto, a tropical shrub from Central and South America and parts of India, contains Bixin, an apocarotenoid pigment. Bixin is conventionally used as a natural food colorant and is now receiving attention for its health-promoting nutraceutical properties, particularly in chronic diseases (metabolic syndrome—MetS—and cancers). This study investigates the dose-dependent anti-obesity and anti-steatotic effects of Bixin in in vitro cell culture models. The anti-adipogenic and anti-steatotic effects of Bixin were examined in well-established in vitro models of obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD/steatosis) using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes (by a differentiation protocol) and HepG2cells (steatosis-induced with oleic acid), respectively. Bixin was administered in the following concentration range: 1 μg mL<sup>−1</sup>–20 μg mL<sup>−1</sup> (obesity model) and 2.5 μg mL<sup>−1</sup>–10 μg mL<sup>−1</sup> (NAFLD/steatosis model). The neutral lipid content was estimated by Oil Red O staining; ROS/RNS were quantified by 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) and nitrite assays; and malondialdehyde (MDA), the biochemical marker of lipid peroxidation, was assessed by TBARS assay. At lower concentrations, 5 μg mL<sup>−1</sup> in steatotic cells and 10 μg mL<sup>−1</sup> in matured adipocytes, Bixin significantly reduced lipid accumulation in both hepatocytes and adipocytes (<i>p</i> < 0.05), demonstrating its potential as an anti-steatotic and anti-obesity agent. This beneficial effect was correlated with a reduction in oxidative stress levels (decreased MDA and ROS/RNS levels). Strikingly, at higher concentrations (>10 μg mL<sup>−1</sup>), Bixin showed increased lipid accumulation and oxidative stress. Bixin exhibits anti-obesity and anti-steatotic effects at lower doses, which correlates with its antioxidant properties. However, its bioactivity is dose-dependent, meaning that at higher concentrations, it ceases to inhibit adipogenesis. This opposing response is accompanied by elevated oxidative stress levels, indicating a pro-oxidant effect at higher doses, which suggests its anti-cancer potential. The present study highlights the significance of dosage optimization of nutraceuticals and dietary ingredients with respect to their intended biological applications, such as MetS and cancer treatment.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9976/38/1/4BixinannattocarotenoidsantioxidantobesityNALFD
spellingShingle Sonakshi Puri
Sumit Kumar Mandal
Pankaj Kumar Sharma
P. R. Deepa
Anti-Obesity and Anti-Steatotic Effects of Bixin (Apocarotenoid from <i>Bixa orellana</i> L. Seeds): Dose-Dependent Correlations with Bioactivity
Biology and Life Sciences Forum
Bixin
annatto
carotenoids
antioxidant
obesity
NALFD
title Anti-Obesity and Anti-Steatotic Effects of Bixin (Apocarotenoid from <i>Bixa orellana</i> L. Seeds): Dose-Dependent Correlations with Bioactivity
title_full Anti-Obesity and Anti-Steatotic Effects of Bixin (Apocarotenoid from <i>Bixa orellana</i> L. Seeds): Dose-Dependent Correlations with Bioactivity
title_fullStr Anti-Obesity and Anti-Steatotic Effects of Bixin (Apocarotenoid from <i>Bixa orellana</i> L. Seeds): Dose-Dependent Correlations with Bioactivity
title_full_unstemmed Anti-Obesity and Anti-Steatotic Effects of Bixin (Apocarotenoid from <i>Bixa orellana</i> L. Seeds): Dose-Dependent Correlations with Bioactivity
title_short Anti-Obesity and Anti-Steatotic Effects of Bixin (Apocarotenoid from <i>Bixa orellana</i> L. Seeds): Dose-Dependent Correlations with Bioactivity
title_sort anti obesity and anti steatotic effects of bixin apocarotenoid from i bixa orellana i l seeds dose dependent correlations with bioactivity
topic Bixin
annatto
carotenoids
antioxidant
obesity
NALFD
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9976/38/1/4
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