Bixa orellana
Achiote
Bixa orellana, commonly known as annatto, is a versatile tropical shrub prized for its vibrant, reddish seeds. Beyond its role as a natural food colorant, this medicinal plant offers significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is traditionally used to support skin health and combat oxidative stress in various cultures.
- Scientific name: Bixa orellana
- Family: Bixaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Bixa orellana, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Malvales. Finally, it is a member of the family Bixaceae and the genus Bixa.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malvales | WCVP |
| Family | Bixaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Bixa | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Bixa orellana, is referred to by various common names across different regions and languages. In Chinese, its names are consistent across multiple dialects and simplified/traditional scripts, being known as 红木 (zh-hans), 紅木 (zh-hant), 紅木 (zh-hk), 红木 (zh-cn), and 红木 (zh-sg).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 红木 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 紅木 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 紅木 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 红木 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 红木 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 紅木 | Wikidata |
| pam | Aswiti | Wikidata |
| pl | Arnota właściwa | Wikidata |
| nah | Āchiyōtl | Wikidata |
| qu | Achiwiti | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known as Bixa orellana, exhibits a specific geographical distribution throughout the West Tropical Africa region. Within this part of the continent, it can be found growing in the country of Benin. Its presence extends further across the landscape to include the nation of Burkina. Additionally, the plant is distributed through Ghana and the coastal territory of Guinea-Bissau. Finally, its range encompasses the territory of Guinea, marking its spread across these diverse West African nations.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Congo | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as achiote, utilizes various components for medicinal and culinary purposes. The vibrant red color prized in many cultures is derived directly from the seeds, which are housed within the protective inside of the pods. Beyond the fruit, the leaves serve as important medicinal resources, with the individual leaf often prepared in infusions to treat ailments. Even the smaller structures, such as the twigs and the broader foliage of the leaves, can be integrated into traditional healing practices to harness the full botanical potential of the species.- Total parts
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 16
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| seeds | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| twigs | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inside of the pods | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit shell | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| branches | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Bixa orellana has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Naringenin-7-O-glucoside, Pru, Prunin, bixin, ellagic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 14
- Scientific sources
- 14
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Naringenin-7-O-glucoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pru | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Prunin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bixin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ellagic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| galactose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| geranylgeraniol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| mannose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pentose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Bixa orellana has 6 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antifungal, Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antiproliferative.
- Total activities
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Bixa orellana has 19 reported medicinal uses identified across 20 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, Dyslipidemia, MCF-7 cells, Plasmodium falciparum, allodynia.
- Total uses
- 19
- Scientific sources
- 20
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| inflammation | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Dyslipidemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| MCF-7 cells | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Plasmodium falciparum | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| allodynia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chronic diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diabetes mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gonorrhea | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyperlipidemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |