Effect of bixin on DNA damage and cell death induced by doxorubicin in HL60 cell line

Bixin is a natural red pigment extracted from annatto. Although it is widely used as a coloring agent in food, there are few studies about the effect of this carotenoid on DNA. This study aimed to investigate the effects of bixin on cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by doxorubicin in HL60 cells. At concentrations above 0.3 mu g/mL, bixin demonstrated cytotoxic effects in HL60 cells. Furthermore, this carotenoid was neither mutagenic nor genotoxic to HL60 cells and reduced the DNA damage induced by doxorubicin. Bixin and doxorubicin showed no apoptotic effect in HL60 cells, but the simultaneous combined treatments showed an increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells. In conclusion, our results showed that bixin modulates the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin via induction of apoptosis. The results of this study provide more knowledge about the toxic effects of anticancer treatments and how the natural compounds can be useful on these therapeutic approaches.