Achiote

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Roucu
• Rucu
• arnatto
• Arnotta

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Bixa americana
• Orellana americana
• Bixa katangensis
• Orellana americana var. leiocarpa
• Bixa odorata
• Bixa orellana var. leiocarpa
• Bixa purpurea
• Bixa upatensis
• Bixa orellana f. leiocarpa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Bixa orellana is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and a broad altitudinal distribution. It thrives across an elevational range starting from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 2500 m AMSL. This species exhibits significant ecological plasticity, inhabiting a wide variety of biomes and ecosystems, including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), Caatinga (strictu sensu), and Cerrado (lato sensu). Its presence is also noted in various forest types, such as Gallery or Riparian Forests (Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria), Terra Firme Forests (Floresta de Terra Firme), Várzea Forests (Floresta de Várzea), Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forests (Floresta Estacional Semidecidual), and Ombrophilous or Rainforests (Floresta Ombrófila). Additionally, it can be found in specialized habitats like Restinga, Amazonian Savannas (Savana Amazônica), and other transitional ecological zones.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta de Várzea, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Restinga, Savana Amazônica

Genetics

The genetics of Bixa orellana are characterized by specific cytogenetic configurations that define its reproductive and evolutionary biology. The species exhibits variability in its chromosomal makeup, with documented chromosome numbers of 14 and 16. Furthermore, the plant typically functions at a diploid ploidy level, specifically indicated by a ploidy value of 2. These genetic parameters play a critical role in the plant's stability and its ability to maintain the biochemical pathways necessary for the production of its characteristic pigments.

Chromosome number :

14, 16

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Bixa orellana is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its native tropical ecosystems. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches, while its structural classification also aligns with the nanophanerophyte growth form, reflecting its woody stature. Throughout its developmental stages and seasonal cycles, the plant remains evergreen, maintaining its foliage consistently rather than undergoing a period of deciduousness.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Bixa orellana is characterized by its woody growth form, which can manifest as either a shrub or a tree. As a terrestrial, independent plant, it does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with a height range spanning from a minimum of 1.5 m to a maximum of 15 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 5.5 m. Furthermore, it is a self-supporting species rather than a climber, liana, or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

5.5 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bixa orellana is characterized by specific morphological dimensions and metabolic traits that define its vegetative structure. The leaves exhibit significant variability in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a mean of 15 cm, reaching a maximum of 27 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, leaf width varies from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 18 cm. Regarding its water storage and nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant is non-succulent, lacking specialized tissues for significant water parenchyma development. Furthermore, its metabolic profile does not include the capacity for biological nitrogen fixation, as it does not function as a nitrogen fixer.

Leaf length max:

27 cm

Leaf length mean:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

18 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Bixa orellana is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily facilitated by insects such as bees. The flowering process features pink flowers that typically range in length from 4 cm to a maximum of 5 cm, organized in inflorescences that measure between 0.05 m and 0.1 m in length. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule, with fruit lengths varying from a minimum of 1.5 cm up to a maximum of 4.5 cm. These capsules are dehiscient, meaning they split open at maturity to facilitate seed release. The seeds themselves are relatively small, with a maximum length of 5 mm and a seed mass ranging from a minimum of 0.025 g to a maximum of 0.0279 g, maintaining a mean mass of approximately 0.026275 g. Dispersal of the seeds is characterized as anemochorous, utilizing wind as a primary mechanism for movement.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Flower length max:

5 cm

Flower length min:

4 cm

Fruit length max:

4.5 cm

Fruit length min:

1.5 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Inflorescence length max:

0.1 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.05 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0279 g

Seed mass mean:

0.026275 g

Seed mass min:

0.025 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Bixa orellana has 3 reported plant parts identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed, fruit.

Leaf

1. Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Journal of food biochemistry
5. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Seed

1. Tropical and geographical medicine
2. Journal of AOAC International

Fruit

1. Carbohydrate research

Chemicals

Bixa orellana has 65 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Bixin, ellagic acid, Apigenin 7-glucoside, Ash, CALCIUM.

Bixin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of AOAC International

ellagic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Apigenin 7-glucoside

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

Crocetin

1. Dr. Duke

Cryptoxanthin

1. Dr. Duke

Cyanidin

1. Dr. Duke

EO

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Bixa orellana has 344 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antioxidant, Hypoglycemic.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antifungal

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Bixa orellana has 19 reported investigations on conditions identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, Dyslipidemia, MCF-7 cells, Plasmodium falciparum, allodynia.

Inflammation

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Dyslipidemia

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Mcf-7 cells

1. Heliyon

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Revista cubana de medicina tropical

Allodynia

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Chronic diseases

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Diabetes mellitus

1. Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology

Diarrhea

1. Gastroenterology research and practice

Gonorrhea

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Hyperlipidemia

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Bixa orellana has 12 reported preparations identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Annatto Oil, Its Granules (Chronic^®), MPS extract of leaves, aqueous extract of hydroethanolic extract, ethanol precipitated mucilage concentrates of leaf.

Annatto oil

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Its granules (chronic^®)

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Mps extract of leaves

1. Journal of food biochemistry

Aqueous extract of hydroethanolic extract

1. Gastroenterology research and practice

Ethanol precipitated mucilage concentrates of leaf

1. Journal of food biochemistry

Ethanolic extracts of the leaves and branches

1. Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fruit shell

1. Carbohydrate research

Hydroethanolic extract

1. Gastroenterology research and practice

Leaves

1. Heliyon