Achiote is a native plant from tropical America, where the rainfall reaches over 1800mm/year. Probably from southwestern Amazonia, extending from Mexico to Brazil, and of course, Peru.
Its name derives from the word “achiotl” own of the native Mexican languages.
His scientific name Bixa orellana owes to itself the explorer Francisco de Orellana, discoverer of the Rio Amazónas. The term Bixa comes from "Bija", which is a wine done based on this one plant for the native communities of Colombia.
This specie is credited with a lot of medicinal properties, in addition to its known use as a natural colorant due to bixin, which is as it is called the chemical compound that gives reddish color.
Proximate analysis
Protein 12.1 – 13.1 %
Ether Extract 5.2 – 8.8 %
Pentosans 11.4 – 14.9 %
Pectin 0.2 – 0.6 %
Carbohydrates 39.9 – 47.9 %
Tannins 0.3 – 0.9 %
Ashes 5.4 – 6.9 %
Carotenoids 1.2 – 2.3 %
Medicinal properties
As medicinal use, we can take advantage of the leaves, seeds, flesh and roots of the plant. It possesses qualities as astringent, antiseptic, emollient, antibacterial, antirust, expectorant, healing, febrifuge, stomachic and antidysenteric.
• Leaves: They are consumed in tea or crushed, because they have diuretic properties and also faculties against gonorrhea, as well as to relieve the redness and erysipelas.
For stomach problems, vomiting of blood, hemorrhoids, headaches and throat is also a purgative, anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic.
The use of the seed and the fruit is considered an effective antidote against poisoning by Jatropha curcas or "Jatropha" (abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomits, sore throat, and gastroenteritis) and Manihot esculenta or “Yuca brava” (breathing problems and even death).
• Seed (ground): Measles, smallpox, and stomachic, kidney diseases, febrifuge, astringent, and slightly purgative. The seed oil can be used successfully against leprosy
• Pullp: Burns and blisters.
• Root: Digestive and antitussive. Tea made from young shoots and leaves is used against dysentery, as aphrodisiac, astringent and to treat skin infections, fevers and hepatitis.
Beside this, the ethyl alcohol extracts of fruits and leaves have s
hown in vitro activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
Achiote has also other active compounds, including flavonoids, carotenoids (Vitamin A), vitamins B, C, leutein, pectin, norbixin, apigenin glucoside, and others who ascribe to the plant its medicinal properties.
Recents studies in mice have demonstrated the effectiveness of achiote seed extract against chromosome aberrations caused by radiation exposure. As the extract of these seeds could result in a radioprotective effect in humans.
Recommendations
- As a vaginal anti-inflamatory, Achiote is prescribed in the form of dried leave bags with a weight of 7 grams, which are macerated in a liter of boiled water for 24 hours, then applied as “vaginal showers” 2 times a day, for a period of 5 to 7 days.
- Against the urinary disorders, prostate cáncer, hypertension and blood colesterol: Half a cup of cooked Achiote leaves is prescribed, taken 2 or 3 times a day. Pulverized ground seed is also used in small doses of 10-20 mg daily.
- As an analgesic and anti-inflammatory: It may suggest the freeze-dried extract of the leaves.