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Botanical Name |
: |
Bixa orellana L. |
English
Name |
: |
Annatto, Lipstick Plant |
Synonym(s) |
: |
Bixa acuminate, Bixa urucurana, Bixa acuminata, Bixa americana |
Family |
: |
Bixaceae |
| |
General Info
| Description |
 |
|
A profusely fruiting shrub or small tree that grows 5-10 m in height. Its glossy, ovate leaves are evergreen with reddish veins; they have a round, heart-shaped base and a pointed tip. With a thin, long stem, the leaves are between 8 and 20 cm long and 5 and 14 cm wide. The fruits are heart-shaped, brown or reddish brown at maturity, and are covered with short stiff hairs. Seeds fleshy, about 5 mm in diameter and covered with red-orange pulp, the embryo of which is poisonous. |
| Herb Effects |
|
|
Antimicrobial, diuretic, digestive stimulant, hepatoprotective, hypocholesterolemic (leaves); antioxidant, hepatoprotective, insect repellant, diuretic, hypocholesterolemic (seeds). |
Chemistry
| Active Ingredients |
|
|
Arginine, bixin, crocetin, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine (seed); ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, niacin, riboflavin (fruit); cyanidin, ellagic acid, slicyclic acid (plant) |
| Chemistry
of Active Ingredients |
|
|
|
 |
Name |
CAS# |
IUPAC Name |
Formula |
Structure |
 |
|
| Arginine |
7004-12-8 |
2-amino-5-guanidino-
pentanoic acid |
C6H14N4O2 |
|
| Bixin |
Not Available |
(2E,4Z,6Z,8E,10E,12E
,14E,16Z,18E)-20-met
hoxy-4,8,13,17-tetra
methyl-20-
oxo-icos
a-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,1
6,18-nonaenoic acid |
C25H30O4 |
|
| Crocetin |
27876-94-4 |
2,6,11,15-tetramethy
lhexadeca-2,4,6,8,10
,12,14-heptaenedioic
acid |
C20H24O4 |
|
| Histidine |
6027-02-7 |
2-amino-3-(3H-imidaz
ol-4-yl)propanoic
acid |
C6H9N3O2 |
|
| Isoleucine |
319-78-8 |
2-amino-3-methyl-pen
tanoic acid |
C6H13NO2 |
|
| Leucine |
2439-37-4 |
2-dimethylamino-4-me
thyl-pentanoic acid |
C8H17NO2 |
|
| Lysine |
923-27-3 |
2,6-diaminohexanoic
acid |
C6H14N2O2 |
|
| Methionine |
348-67-4 |
2-amino-4-methylsulf
anyl-butanoic acid |
C5H11NO2S |
|
| Phenylalanine |
3617-44-5 |
2-amino-3-phenyl-pro
panoic acid |
C9H11NO2 |
|
| Threonine |
80-68-2 |
2-amino-3-hydroxy-bu
tanoic acid |
C4H9NO3 |
|
| Tryptophan |
80206-30-0 |
2-amino-3-(1H-indol-
3-yl)propanoic acid |
C11H12N2O2 |
|
| Valine |
7004-03-7 |
2-amino-3-methyl-but
anoic acid |
C5H11NO2 |
|
| Ascorbic Acid |
Not Available |
2-(1,2-dihydroxyethy
l)-4,5-dihydroxy-fur
an-3-one |
C6H8O6 |
|
| beta Carotene |
7235-40-7 |
3,7,12,16-tetramethy
l-1,18-bis(2,6,6-tri
methyl-1-cyclohexeny
l)-octadec
a-1,3,5,
7,9,11,13,15,17-nona
ene |
C40H56 |
|
| Niacin |
99148-57-9 |
pyridine-3-carboxyli
c acid |
C6H5NO2 |
|
| Riboflavin |
Not Available |
Not Available |
C17H21N4O9P |
|
| Cyanidin |
87725-42-6 |
[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphe
nyl)-3,7-dihydroxy-c
hromen-5-ylidene]oxo
nium |
C15H11O6+ |
|
| Ellagic acid |
Not Available |
Not Available |
C14H6O8 |
|
|
Pharmacology
| Medicinal Use |
|
|
As a topical antiseptic for ear, eye, and skin infections, for digestive problems, prostate and urinary infections, hypertension and high cholesterol levels (leaves); to tone, balance, and strengthen liver function and for hepatitis and liver inflammation/pain, high cholesterol, skin care and skin anti-aging, sinusitis, constipation, relieves stomachaches and asthma (seeds); in healing of minor wounds and burns, prevents scaring and blisters (pulp and oil); treatment of jaundice, diabetes, influenza, dysentry, venereal diseases (root). |
| Contraindication |
|
|
Contraindicated for people with diabetes. |
Dealers
Products
|
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Health Remedies 
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