Análise fitoquímica do extrato etanólico de Bixa orellana L.

Abstract

The use of plants for therapeutic purposes is one of the oldest forms of medicinal practice for mankind. However, few have been validated from the pharmacological, phytochemical, biological and mainly clinical point of view. Bixa orellana L., popularly known as annatto tree or paprika, is widely used by Latin Americans as a food coloring, but little studied. Therefore, based on its characteristics and due to few studies of the chemical constituents of this plant, the aim of this study is to carry out phytochemical tests with the ethanolic extract of the seeds of Bixa orellana L., in order to identify classes of constituent compounds and relate them to their therapeutic properties. For this, with the use of 500mL of 95% ethanol, 250g of seeds were extracted for 48 hours. After this period, the ethanolic extract was filtered with the aid of filter paper and evaporated for drying using the reduced pressure rotator (<100) at 104°F. Phytochemical tests were performed on the extract concentrated at 1% in dimethylsulfoxide to search for the following compounds: alkaloids, anthraquinones, flavonoids, saponins and tannins. In view of this research, positive results were observed for the components: alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins in the ethanolic extract obtained from the seeds of Bixa orellana L. The presence of these metabolites may explain some pharmacological properties of the plant, such as: antimicrobial, antihypertensive action, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antioxidant, healing, among others.