Bixa orellana

Scientific name: Bixa orellana L.

Synonym: Bixa odorata Ruiz & Par. ex G. Don

Synonym 2: Bixa americana Poiret

Botanical family: BIXACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

bija

Haiti:

woukou

Other vernacular names

Honduras:

Achote

Dominican Republic:

Bija

Venezuela:

Onoto

Geographical distribution

Originating in the American Tropics and grown in tropical regions.

Botanical description

Shrub or small tree of up to 9 m, very ramified. Alternate leaves, ovate, from 8 to 20 cm, acuminate, cordate at the base, entire. Inflorescence in terminal panicles; flowers 4 to 5.3 cm in diameter; pink or white petals, obovate to broadly oval. Capsule (fruit) ovoid to globular-ovoid, 3 to 4 cm, usually with soft spines. Seeds with a red aril.

Voucher(s)

Jiménez,21,121&1517,JBSD

conjunctivitis

leaf, decoction, eye wash¹

burns

seed, crushed, topical application²

crushed seed, fried in oil (coconut or other), topical application^2-3

The aril around the seed of Bixa orellana is a dye of relatively widespread human consumption.

For conjunctivitis:
Prepare a decoction with 30 grams of leaves in 4 cups (1 litre) of water, boil for 5 minutes in a covered vessel. Let the preparation cool down, strain (filter) with a cloth before performing an eyewash every 2-4 hours.

TRAMIL Work³³
For superficial burns: Fry 10 grams of crushed seed in 40 millilitres of vegetable oil and leave to cool.
Wash the injury with boiled water and soap, apply on the affected area in sufficient quantities. Cover with a dressing or clean cloth and change every 12 hours.
Preparations must never be stored for more than 24 hours, even if refrigerated.

According to the information available:

The use for conjunctivitis is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys, the toxicity studies and the scientific information published.
All applications in the eyes must follow the strictest hygiene measures, in order to prevent contamination or additional infection and to avoid contact with substances that can irritate to the conjunctiva.

The use for burns is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys, the toxicity studies and the scientific information published.
Traditional use should be limited to superficial burns (epidermal damage) that are minor (less than 10% of the body surface) and located outside high-risk areas such as the face, hands, feet and genitals. Only use the preparation for local application.
All topical application must follow strict hygiene measures in order to prevent contamination or additional infection.
Seed oil taken orally can produce hypersensitivity reactions.
Not for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children under 12 years.

TRAMIL Work²¹
The raw freeze-dried aqueous seed extract (500 and 1000 mg/kg) doses expressed in weight of dry extract, intraperitoneal route to female rat (160-180 g), in the hippocratic screening model, caused decreased motor activity, increased diuresis and signs of diarrhoea.

TRAMIL Work²⁵
The aqueous seed extract (decoction, 5000 mg/kg/day) orally in 10 Hsd:ICR mice (CD-1) of 25.30 ± 1.66 g (5 males and 5 females), the control was performed with water (0.4 ml/20 g of mouse) with another 10 mice of the same strain and characteristics, for 5 days with 12 additional days of observation, did not cause mortality, nor was there any sign of toxicity (Irwin’s multidimensional test). The macroscopic autopsy showed no alterations in the organs.

TRAMIL Work²⁰
The aqueous and ethanolic (80%) seed extracts in the tumour growth model (MOLT-4) of human lymphoma and human L929 fibroblasts (adherent cells) caused slight cytotoxicity and little toxicity on the fibroblasts (local toxicity).

TRAMIL Work²⁶
The LD50 of the seeds via the oral route was 1092 ± 202 mg/kg.

TRAMIL Work27
The extract using oil (0.6 g plant material fried in 20 drops of vegetable oil) of crushed dry seed, topically (patch with 0.6 ml on 6 cm2 of shaved skin) in 3 New Zealand rabbits, Draize model, did not cause oedema or erythema in 72 hours of observation.

TRAMIL Work²⁸
The extract using oil (0.6 g plant material fried in 20 drops of vegetable oil) of crushed dry seed, in topical application on shaved skin (4 x 3 cm patch for 24 h) in Wistar rats (5 males and 5 females), acute topical toxicity model, did not cause death or any other adverse signs in the 14 days of observation. The histological study of the organs showed no lesions.

TRAMIL Works²⁹
The freeze-dried aqueous extract and the freeze-dried infusion of petioles, in topical application (0.5%) in rabbits (0.5 ml x 5 cm2 ) for 72 hours, did not induce obvious changes in the skin.
In ocular application (0.5%) of 0.1 ml, there were no evident changes in the conjunctiva; initial lacrimation was observed.

TRAMIL Work³⁰
The fresh leaf (freeze-dried), topically (100 μl) in rabbits in the ocular irritation model (conjunctival sac of the right eye), observed for 72 hours, did not cause any alteration or irritation during the observation period.

The dry seed (500 mg/kg/day) orally in pregnant rats did not show embryotoxicity or other adverse signs³¹.

The dry seed at variable oral doses in 15 women volunteers did not cause adverse signs³².

There is no information available documenting the safety of medicinal use in children, during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

TRAMIL Work⁴
Chemical analysis of the seed:

vitamin C: 0.005%	protein: 6.61%
total sugars: 10.24%	iron: 0.08%

The seed has been widely studied and contains, among other
components, carotenoids: β carotene⁵ , bixin⁶ , methyl bixin⁷and norbixin⁸ , anthocyanins; monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes: geranylgeraniol derivatives, farnesyl acetone, tocotrienol^9-12. Other carotenoids have been isolated from the seed in a smaller proportion: dimethyl (9Z,9′Z)-6,6′-diapocarotene-6,6′-dioate, methyl (9Z)-10′-oxo-6,10′-diapocaroten-6-oate, methyl (9Z)-6′- oxo-6,5′-diapocaroten-6-oate, methyl (4Z)-4,8-dimethyl-12-oxo-dodecyl-2,4,6,8,10-pentaenoate, methyl (9Z)-8′-oxo-6,8′- diapocaroten-6-oate¹³.

Proximate analysis of 100 g of the seed14: water: 0%; protein: 13.1%; fat: 5%; ash: 5.4%.
The leaf contains flavonoids, tannins, terpenes, alkaloids and sesquiterpenes: ishwarane or bixhaghene^15-17. Phytol, polyprenol and a mixture of stigmasterol and β-sitosterol¹⁸ have been isolated from the dichloromethane leaf extract.

TRAMIL Work¹⁹
The aqueous extract (decoction) from dried leaves (2 mg/ml) in vitro reported no antimicrobial activity.

TRAMIL Work²⁰
The aqueous and ethanolic (80%) seed extracts in tumour growth models (MOLT-4) of human lymphoma, Swiss mouse splenocytes (immunomodulator) and murine macrophages (phagocytosis) caused slight stimulation of splenocyte proliferation induced by the aqueous extract and significant immunostimulant and dose dependent effect with the ethanolic extract.

TRAMIL Work²¹ The aqueous seed extract, in vitro (0.1 μg/ml), showed anti-inflammatory activity, by inhibiting 38% prostaglandin synthetase and in guinea pig ileum isolate (0.2 mg/ml) it inhibited histamine-stimulated motility by 17% (0.102 μg/ml).

In the carrageenan-induced rat leg oedema model, 1 g/kg reduced the inflammatory response by 22%.

TRAMIL Work²²
The aqueous extract (3.8% decoction) from the seed (0.5, 2, 4 and 6 mg/ear, in a volume of 10 μl) applied topically on both sides of the right ear to Hsd:ICR mice (CD-1) (6 males and 6 females per group), the negative control received acetone (10 μl/ear) and the positive control group was treated with indomethacin (25 mg/ml), in the model of inflammation induced by application of tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA) (0.125 mg/ml) for 4 hours. Statistically significant inhibition of the inflammation was observed in the groups treated with the extract at doses of 4 and 6 mg/mouse.

The in vitro ethanolic fruit and leaf extracts against Staphylococcus aureus showed antibacterial activity²³.
The ethanolic dry leaf extract (98%) showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa²⁴.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

1 DELENS M, 1990
Encuesta TRAMIL en Barlovento, Edo. Miranda. Centro al Servicio de la Acción Popular CESAP, Caracas, Venezuela.

2 GERMOSEN-ROBINEAU L, GERONIMO M, AMPARO C, 1984
Encuesta TRAMIL. enda-caribe, Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana.

3 WENIGER B, 1987-88
Encuesta TRAMIL. enda-caribe, Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana.

4 GUPTA M, ESPOSITO AVELLA M, 1988
Evaluación química y farmacológica de algunas plantas medicinales de TRAMIL. CIFLORPAN, Universidad de Panamá, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá. TRAMIL III, La Habana, Cuba, MINSAP/enda-caribe.

5 ANGELUCCI E, ARIMA HK, KUMAGAI EA, 1980
Annatto. 1. Preliminary data of the chemical composition. Col Inst Technol Aliments 11:89-96.

6 TIRIMANA ASL, 1981
Study of the carotenoid pigments of Bixa orellana L. seeds by T.L.C. Mikrochim Acta 2:11-16.

7 MERCADANTE AZ, STECK A, PFANDER H, 1997
Isolation and structure elucidation of minor carotenoids from annatto (Bixa orellana L.) seeds. Phytochemistry 46(8):1379-1383.

8 CRAVEIRO AA, OLIVERIRA CLA, A-RAUJO FWL, 1989
The presence of geranil-geraniol in Bixa orellana Linn. Quim Nova 12(3):297-298.

9 MERCADANTE AZ, STECK A, PFANDER H, 1999
Three minor carotenoids from annatto (Bixa orellana) seeds. Phytochemistry 52(1):135-139.

10 JONDIKO IJO, PATTENDEN G, 1989
Terpenoids and an apocarotenoid from seeds of Bixa orellana. Phytochemistry 28(11):3159-3162.

11 GALINDO-CUSPINERA V, LUBRAN MB, RANKIN SA, 2002
Comparison of volatile compounds in waterand oil-soluble annatto (Bixa orellana L.) extracts. J Agric Food Chem 50:2010-2115.

12 FELICISSIMO MP, BITTENCOURT C, HOUSSIAU L, PIREAUX JJ, 2004
Timeof-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses of Bixa orellana seeds. J Agric Food Chem 52:1810-1814.

13 MERCADANTE AZ, STECK A, PFANDER H, 1997
Isolation and structure elucidation of minor carotenoids from annatto (Bixa orellana L.) seeds. Phytochemistry 46(8):1379–1383.

14 DUKE JA, ATCHLEY AA, 1986
Handbook of proximate analysis tables of higher plants. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press. p27.

15 LAWRENCE BM, HOGG JW, 1973
Ishwarane in Bixa orellana leaf oil. Phytochem 12: 2995.

16 HARBORNE JB, 1975
Flavonoids bisulphates and their co-occurence with ellagic acid in the Bixaceae, Frankeniaceae and related families. Phytochemistry 14(5-6):1331-1337.

17 HUAMÁN O, SANDOVAL M, ARNAO I, BEJAR E, 2009
Efecto antiulceroso del extracto hidroalcohólico liofilizado de hojas de Bixa orellana (achiote), en ratas. An Fac Med 70(2):97-102.

18 RAGA DD, ESPIRITU RA, SHEN CC, RAGASA CY, 2011
A bioactive sesquiterpene from Bixa orellana. J Nat Med 65(1):206-211.

19 CACERES A, SONIA GONZALEZ S, GIRON LM, 1998
Demostración de la actividad antimicrobiana de plantas tramil en base a los usos populares en la cuenca del Caribe. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Productos Fitofarmacéuticos Farmaya Guatemala, Guatemala.

20 WENIGER B, 1992
Etude sur Bixa orellana. Rapport TRAMIL. Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France. TRAMIL VI, Basse Terre, Guadeloupe, UAG/enda-caribe.

21 SERRANO G, SANDBERG F, 1988
Actividad antiinflamatoria de Bixa orellana: Informe preliminar TRAMIL. Universidad de Uppsala, Uppsala, Suecia. TRAMIL III, La Habana, Cuba, MINSAP/enda-caribe.

22 PAZOS L, COTO T, CAIZA F, 2008
Antiinflamatorio tópico, en ratones, de las semillas de Bixa orellana. Informe TRAMIL, Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos, LEBi, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

23 GEORGE M, PETALAI KM, 1949
Investigations on plant antibiotics. Part IV. Further search for antibiotic substances in Indian medicinal plants. Indian J Med Res 37:169-181.

24 ROJAS JJ, OCHOA VJ, OCAMPO SA, MUÑOZ JF, 2006
Screening for antimicrobial activity of ten medicinal plants used in Colombian folkloric medicine: A possible alternative in the treatment of non-nosocomial infections. BMC, Complement Altern Med 6:2.

25 PAZOS L, COTO T, CAIZA F, 2008
Toxicidad oral aguda, dosis repetida, en ratón, semillas de Bixa orellana. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos, LEBi, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

26 GARCIA D, SAENZ T, 1995
Toxicidad aguda de algunas plantas TRAMIL. Informe TRAMIL. Farmacognosia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, España.

27 MARTINEZ MJ, BETANCOURT J, LOPEZ M, MOREJON Z, FUENTES V, MORON F, 2005
Irritabilidad dérmica de semilla seca de Bixa orellana. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas “Dr. Salvador Allende”, La Habana, Cuba.

28 MARTINEZ MJ, BETANCOURT J, LOPEZ M, MOREJON Z, FUENTES V, MORON F, 2005
Clases Tóxicas Agudas tópica de semilla seca de Bixa orellana. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas “Dr. Salvador Allende”, La Habana, Cuba.

29 SOLIS PN, OLMEDO D, BUITRAGO DE TELLO RE, GUPTA MP, 2000
Estudio fitoquímico y toxicológico de algunas plantas TRAMIL. Informe TRAMIL. Centro de Investigaciones Farmacognósticas de la Flora Panameña CIFLORPAN, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Panamá, Panamá, Panamá.

30 PAZOS L, COTO T, CAIZA F, 2008
Irritación ocular, en conejos, del jugo de hojas de Bixa orellana. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos, LEBi, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

31 PAUMGARTTEN FJ, DE-CARVALHO RR, ARAUJO IB, PINTO FM, BORGES OO, SOUZA CA, KURIYAMA SN, 2002
Evaluation of the developmental toxicity of annatto in the rat. Food and Chemical Toxicology 40(11):1595-1601.

32 SILVA DELGADO H, DEL AGUILA A, GODOY PEREZ L, PORTOCARRERO P, 1998
Clinical evaluation of Bixa orellana L. achiote in female volunteers. Phase I Study. Biodiversidad Salud 1(1):38-41.

33 CARBALLO A, 1995
Plantas medicinales del Escambray cubano. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio provincial de producción de medicamentos, Sancti Spiritus, Cuba.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for educational purposes only for the benefit of the general public and health professionals. It is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations. Since some parts of plants could be toxic, might induce side effects, or might have interactions with certain drugs, anyone intending to use them or their products must first consult with a physician or another qualified health care professional. TRAMIL has no responsibility whatsoever towards the user for any decision, action or omission made in relation to the information contained in this Pharmacopoeia.

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