Biological properties of natural dyes

El propósito del presente trabajo es evaluar el aumento en el uso de colorantes naturales en la industria alimentaria y la posibilidad de desarrollar nuevos medicamentos gracias a sus diversas propiedades biológicas. La presente revisión aborda las principales actividades biológicas observadas en los carotenoides y las antocianinas y pone énfasis en el amplio uso del extracto de achiote o bija (Bixa orellana L.) y de la curcumina (Curcuma longa) en estas actividades.The aim of the present work is to evaluate the increase uses of natural colorants in the nourishing industry and in the promising of new medicines due its several biological properties. In this review the main biological activities observed in the carotenóids and the anthocyianins are boarded, with emphasis in the wide use of the urucum‘s extract from Bixa orellana L.) and of curcumin from Curcuma longa in these activities

Hypolipidaemic effects of naringenin, rutin, nicotinic acid and their associations

Atherosclerosis can be defined as being a disease of coronary circulation. The present work evaluates the action of the naringenin, rutin, nicotinic acid, isolated and in association, on the metabolism of lipids. Cholesterol, cholesterol HDL, and triacylglycerols have been dosed after retreat of blood, following the administration of the compounds dissolved in propylene glycol by intraperitoneal route in doses of 5 mg kg^−1body wt. Results evidence that naringenin and nicotinic acid, isolated as well as their association with naringenin and nicotinic acid–rutin, present the largest percentual reduction of cholesterol. On the other hand, the best results for cholesterol-HDL have been obtained with naringenin, while rutin has shown the best triacylglycerols levels