Gen
Info
Next to caramel, annatto
is the world's most important natural colorant yielding yello to red
colors. There is global commercial production of the seed, estimated
in 1990 at 10,000 tons per year; Brazil being the largest exported.
Botany
A tree reaching 4 to 6
meters. Leaves are entire, ovate, 8 to 20 cm long, 5 to 12 cm wide,
with a broad and heart-shaped base, and a pointed tip. The flowers are
white or pinkish, 4 to 6 cm diameter, 4 to 6 cm in diameter on terminal
panicles. Capsules are ovoid or rounded, reddish brown, about 4 cm long
and covered with long, slender and soft spines containing many small
seeds covered with a dye-yielding red pulp.
Distribution
Pantropic; planted throughout
the Philippines.
Chemical
constituents and characteristics
The coloring matter
in the seeds is bixin.
Seed contains a fatty oil with palmitin, a little stearin, and phytosterol.
Fine powder covering the seed is hemostatic and stomachic.
Root-bark is antiperiodic and antipyretic.
Diuretic and purgative.
Aphrodisiac and detoxifier.
Seeds are slightly astringent.
The pulp (annatto) surrounding the seeds is astringent and slightly
purgative.
Study of carotenoid pigments in the seeds identified bixin, norbixin,
ß-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin and methyl bixin.
Parts utilized
Leaves, bark and seeds.
Uses
Folkloric
· For small burns:
Wash the leaves with soap and water. Boil 10 leaves in 5 glasses of
water; cool. Soak the burn area for 10 minues, once a day.
· The pulp of the seeds, immediately applied to burns, prevents
blistering and scarring.
· The seeds, ground and boiled, also used for burns.
· Fresh seeds when moistened produce a reddish colored juice
that is applied to red rashes.
· The seeds are used as antidote for cassava and J. urcas poisoning.
· The achuete dye used with lime for the treatment of erysipelas.
· Also used for wound healing, regulation of heavy menses, and
thinning hair.
· The leaf, bruised with the head of a "walis-tingting"
(broom made from frond ribs of the coconut leaves), mixed with warm
coconut oil is applied on the forehead for headaches.
· An infusion of the leaves used as purgative.
· Poultice of leaves are diuretic and used for treatment of gonorrhea.
· Leaves for snake bites
· Decoction of leaves for nausea and vomiting.
• In traditional Peruvian medicine,
used to treat heartburn and stomach distress caused by spicy foods;
also, as a vaginal antiseptic and cicatrizant.
• In West Indian folk medicine, used for diabetes mellitus.
Others
· The main product from B. orellana is an organic dye present
in the seed coat called "annatto," lipid-soluble and widely
used in the food industry for its red to orange-yellow colours (cheese,
butter, oils, margarine, ice-cream, pastries). Next to caramel, it is
the world's second most important food colorant.Besides providing an
attractive color to meat and other dishes, it also imparts a subtle
and distinctive flavour. In the cosmetic industry it finds use in hair,
nail and soap products, and also in the many of the household products
– floor wax, shoe polish, russet leather, wood stains.
• Female aphrodisiac in the Amazonia.
Studies
•Antifungal activity.
• Antimicrobial: Screening for antimicrobial activity of ten
medicinal plants used in Colombian folkloric medicine: a possible alternative
in the treatment of non-nosocomial infections:
The study screened plants extracts - including Bixa orellana
– for antimicrobial activity and MIC. Results
showed that Bixa orellana, Justicia secunda and Piper pulchrum could
be potential sources of new antimicrobial agents.
• Antibacterial / Antioxidant / Antidiarrheal
/ Neuropharmacolic / Anticonvulsant/ Gastrointestinal Motility Effect:
Preliminary pharmacologic studies on the methanol extracts
of BO leaves showed statistical decrease in locomotor activity, anticonvulsant
effect, analgesic and antidiarrheal effect and a delay i gastrointestinal
motility. It also showed radical scavenging properties and antibacterial
activity against agents of diarrhea and dysentery.
• Hypoglycemic: Study of BO oil
seed suspension of the red seed coat showed it to be a potent hypoglycemic
agent. Extract study showed hypoglycemia in both normal and streptozotocin
diabetic dogs.
• Milk-based pigment: Study
showed B orellana seeds can be used as a pigment in making milk-based
paint.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
Small scale local cultivation for condiment and food colorant.
Worldwide production of annatto seeds for commercial and home use.
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