Synonyms/Common Names/Related Substances:

• Acetate, acetone, achiot (Spanish - Colombia), achiote (Spanish - Peru), achiote seeds, achiotillo, achiotin, annotta, annatto extract, annatto tree, aploppas, apocarotenoids, arnotta, arnotto (Native American), azo dyes, biche, bija, Bixa acuminata, Bixa acuminata Bojer., Bixa americana, Bixa americana Poiret, Bixa katangensis Delpierre, Bixa odorata, Bixa odorata Ruiz & Pav. ex G. Don., Bixa orellana, Bixa platycarpa, Bixa platycarpa Ruiz & Pav. ex G. Don., Bixa purpurea, Bixa purpurea Hort., Bixa tinctoria, Bixa tinctoria Salixb., Bixa upatensis, Bixa upatensis Grosscurdy, Bixa urucurana, Bixa urucurana Willd., Bixaceae (family), bixin, brickdust, butter color, BXN, calcium sulfate, carotenoids, chalk, changuarica (Spanish - Mexico), colcothar, E160b, E number E160b, eroya, essential oil, false damiana, farinaceous matter, fat-soluble color, fatty acid, fiber, flag annotta, gypsum, ishwarane, jafara, kasujmba-kelling, kham thai, k'u-zub (Spanish - Mexico), lipstick tree, natural color, natural food color, norbixin, occidentalol, occidentalol acetate, ochre, onoto (Spanish - Venezuela), orellana, Orellana americana, Orellana americana Kuntze, Orellana orellana, Orellana orellana (L.) Kuntze, orellin, orleana, Orleanstrauch (German), orucu-axiote, phosphoric acid, potassa, powdered bricks, pumacua (Mexico), red ochre, rocou (Dutch, French), roucou (French - Dominica and the French West Indies), roucouyer, ruku (Hungarian), sand, sand gypsum, silica, spathulenol, starchy bodies, sulfuric acid, terebinthinous body, tomentosic acid, Ultrabix™, unane, urucu (Portuguese - Brazil), urucum (Portuguese), urucu-üva, uruku, water-soluble color, (Z,E)-farnesyl acetate.

Clinical Bottom Line/Effectiveness

Brief Background:

• Achiote (Bixa orellana) is a tree or shrub native to the tropics of North and South America, the Caribbean, and the East Indies. It is most abundant from Mexico to Ecuador, as well as Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela, and several other South American countries. Bixa orellana is cultivated in South America and also in southeastern Asia, where it was introduced by Spaniards in the 17th Century.
• Annatto is a pigment produced from the seed of the achiote tree (Bixa orellana). Annatto is commonly used as a coloring agent for pharmaceutical ointments and plasters. It contains the pigment bixin, which is commonly used in the food and cosmetics industries to add yellow or red colors (1). Annatto has also long been a staple in Latin American cooking and Caribbean cuisine as a coloring agent and flavoring, and it is sometimes used as a substitute for saffron. Annatto adds a slightly sweet and peppery taste.
• Annatto has traditionally been used for diabetes and snakebites. Annatto has recently been used as an ingredient in weight-loss products. Human study has shown that annatto may not effectively treat urinary disorders associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia. At this time, there is insufficient available evidence in humans to support the use of achiote (Bixa orellana) or annatto for any indication.

Dosing/Toxicology

• Content available for subscribers only.

Precautions/Contraindications

• Content available for subscribers only.

Interactions

Most herbs and supplements have not been thoroughly tested for interactions with other herbs, supplements, drugs, or foods. The interactions listed below are based on reports in scientific publications, laboratory experiments, or traditional use. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy.

• Content available for subscribers only.

Mechanism of Action

• Content available for subscribers only.

History

• Content available for subscribers only.

Evidence Table

• Content available for subscribers only.

Evidence Discussion

• Content available for subscribers only.

Products Studied

• Content available for subscribers only.

Author Information

• Content available for subscribers only.

References

Natural Standard developed the above evidence-based information based on a thorough systematic review of the available scientific articles. For comprehensive information about alternative and complementary therapies on the professional level, go to www.naturalstandard.com. Selected references are listed below.

• Content available for subscribers only.