Botanical Name : Bixa orellana Linn.
Family : Bixaceae
Identification No.- SDACH/HG/174
Names in different Indian languages :
English : Annatto
Hindi : Sinduriya,laktan
Kannada : Kappumankala,rangamali
Malayalam : Kuragumanjal,kuppa mannal
Sanskrit : Sinduri
Tamil : Jabara,Manjitti,sappira virai
Telugu : Jaffacettu
Synonyms :
सिन्दूरी रक्तबीजा च रक्तपुष्पा सुकोमला । सिन्दूरी विषपित्तास्त्रतृष्णावान्तिहरी हिमा ॥५९॥
Sinduri, Sinduriyaa
Morphology :
Bixa orellana is a tall shrub to small evergreen tree 6–10 m (20–33 ft) high. It bears clusters of 5 cm (2 in) bright white to pink flowers, resembling single wild roses, appearing at the tips of the branches. The fruits are in clusters: spiky looking red-brown seed pods covered in soft spines. Each pod contains many seeds covered with a thin waxy blood-red aril. When fully mature, the pod dries, hardens, and splits open, exposing the seeds
Varieties: Bixa tinctaria Salisb.
Orellana orellana (L.) Kuntze
Bixa orleana Noronha
Bixa americana Poir.
Bixa purpurea Sweet
Bixa odorata Ruiz & Pav. ex G.Don
Bixa acuminata Bojer
Orellana americana (Poir.) Kuntze
Bixa upatensis Ram.Goyena
Bixa katangensis Delpierre
Substitute/ Adulterant: other similar-looking trees, leaves,
Phytochemicals: bixin and norbixin.
Raspanchaka- Rasa– Tikta, kashaya; Guna- Laghu, Rukasha, Tikshna; Virya-sheeta; Vipaka– Katu,; Prabhava- grahi, dosha shamakta– Kaphavatahara
Karma– Arshoghan, Rogaghnata– Vishaghan, Rakthapitta, trishna
Amayika Prayoga/Therapeutic Uses
External: A natural orange-red condiment obtained from the waxy arils that cover its seeds is called annatto, achiote or bijol. Annato and its extracts are often used to impart a yellow or orange colour to foods such as cheese, butter, ice creams etc. it also adds flavor and aroma. In America it is used to make body paints and lipstick. Hence the plant is also called as Lipstick tree.
Internal: Seeds and roots are considered as good appetiser (rochaka), absorbent (grahi) and relieves fever (antipyretic).
Part used: whole plant
Dose: Bark powder – 3 – 6 grams
Yoga/Formulations: Sinduri taila
IUCN Status: Least concern
Research updates: Anti-bacterial Activity – A research study conducted on antibacterial activity of methanolic extract of Bixa orellana on Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis have demonstrated its antibacterial effect and concluded that extract of this plant is cytotoxic at high concentrations.
