ANNATTO

OTHER NAME(S):

Achiote, Achiotillo, Annato, Annotta, Arbre Rouge à L&egrave;vre, Arnotta, Bija, Bixa orellana, Latkan, Lipstick Tree, Rocou, Rocouyer, Roucou.<br/><br/>

Overview

Overview Information

Annatto is a plant. The seed and leaf are used to make medicine.

People take annatto for diabetes, diarrhea, fevers, fluid retention, heartburn, malaria, and hepatitis. They also use it as an antioxidant and bowel cleanser.

Annatto is sometimes put directly on the affected area to treat burns and vaginal infections and to repel insects.

In foods, annatto is used as a coloring agent.

How does it work?

There isn't enough information to know how annatto works.

Uses

Uses & Effectiveness?

Insufficient Evidence for

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of annatto for these uses.

Side Effects

Side Effects & Safety

Annatto is LIKELY SAFE for most people when used in food amounts. It is not known if annatto is safe for use as a medicine.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking annatto if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Diabetes: Annatto might increase or decrease blood sugar levels. Monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use annatto as a medicine. The dose of your diabetes medication may need to be changed.

Surgery: Annatto might affect blood sugar levels. This has raised some concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using annatto as a medicine at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions

Interactions?

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

!

  • Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with ANNATTO

    Annatto might increase blood sugar. Diabetes medications are used to lower blood sugar. By increasing blood sugar, annatto might decrease the effectiveness of diabetes medications. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.<br><nb>Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.

Dosing

Dosing

The appropriate dose of annatto depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for annatto. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

Previous:
Next: Uses

View References

REFERENCES:

  • Takahashi, N., Goto, T., Taimatsu, A., Egawa, K., Katoh, S., Kusudo, T., Sakamoto, T., Ohyane, C., Lee, J. Y., Kim, Y. I., Uemura, T., Hirai, S., and Kawada, T. Bixin regulates mRNA expression involved in adipogenesis and enhances insulin sensitivity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes through PPARgamma activation. Biochem.Biophys.Res.Commun. 12-25-2009;390(4):1372-1376. View abstract.
  • Teixeira, Z., Durán, N., and Guterres, S. Annatto Polymeric Microparticles: Natural Product Encapsulation by the Emulsion-Solvent Evaporation Method. Journal of Chemical Education 2008;87(7):946-947.
  • Terashima, S., Shimizu, M., Horie, S., and Morita, N. Studies on aldose reductase inhibitors from natural products. IV. Constituents and aldose reductase inhibitory effect of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Bixa orellana and Ipomoea batatas. Chem Pharm Bull.(Tokyo) 1991;39(12):3346-3347. View abstract.
  • Uematsu, Y., Hirata, K., Suzuki, K., Iida, K., and Kamata, K. Survey of residual solvents in natural food additives by standard addition head-space GC. Food Addit.Contam 2002;19(4):335-342. View abstract.
  • Zegarra, L., Vaisberg, A., Loza, C., Aguirre, R. L., Campos, M., Fernandez, I., Talla, O., and Villegas, L. Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study of Bixa orellana in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms associated to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Int.Braz.J.Urol. 2007;33(4):493-500. View abstract.
  • Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182
  • Raintree tropical plant database, Amazon plants. www.rain-tree.com/plants.htm (Accessed 30 July 1999).
  • Nish, W. A., Whisman, B. A., Goetz, D. W., and Ramirez, D. A. Anaphylaxis to annatto dye: a case report. Ann.Allergy 1991;66(2):129-131. View abstract.
  • Noppe, H., Abuin, Martinez S., Verheyden, K., Van Loco, J., Companyo, Beltran R., and De Brabander, H. F. Determination of bixin and norbixin in meat using liquid chromatography and photodiode array detection. Food Addit.Contam Part A Chem.Anal.Control Expo.Risk Assess. 2009;26(1):17-24. View abstract.
  • Nunez, V., Otero, R., Barona, J., Saldarriaga, M., Osorio, R. G., Fonnegra, R., Jimenez, S. L., Diaz, A., and Quintana, J. C. Neutralization of the edema-forming, defibrinating and coagulant effects of Bothrops asper venom by extracts of plants used by healers in Colombia. Braz.J Med Biol Res 2004;37(7):969-977. View abstract.
  • Otero, R., Nunez, V., Barona, J., Fonnegra, R., Jimenez, S. L., Osorio, R. G., Saldarriaga, M., and Diaz, A. Snakebites and ethnobotany in the northwest region of Colombia. Part III: neutralization of the haemorrhagic effect of Bothrops atrox venom. J.Ethnopharmacol. 2000;73(1-2):233-241. View abstract.
  • Ouyang, D., Zhang, R., Yi, L., and Xi, Z. A synergistic effect of Cu(2+) and norbixin on DNA damage. Food Chem.Toxicol. 2008;46(8):2802-2807. View abstract.
  • Oyedeji, O. A., Adeniyi, B. A., Ajayi, O., and Konig, W. A. Essential oil composition of Piper guineense and its antimicrobial activity. Another chemotype from Nigeria. Phytother Res 2005;19(4):362-364. View abstract.
  • Paumgartten, F. J., De Carvalho, R. R., Araujo, I. B., Pinto, F. M., Borges, O. O., Souza, C. A., and Kuriyama, S. N. Evaluation of the developmental toxicity of annatto in the rat. Food Chem Toxicol 2002;40(11):1595-1601. View abstract.
  • Pino, J. A. and Correa, M. T. Chemical composition of the essential oil from annatto (Bixa orellana L.) seeds. Journal of Essential Oil Research: JEOR 2003;Mar/Apr
  • Polar-Cabrera, K., Huo, T., Schwartz, S. J., and Failla, M. L. Digestive stability and transport of norbixin, a 24-carbon carotenoid, across monolayers of Caco-2 cells. J.Agric.Food Chem. 5-12-2010;58(9):5789-5794. View abstract.
  • Reddy, M. K., Alexander-Lindo, R. L., and Nair, M. G. Relative inhibition of lipid peroxidation, cyclooxygenase enzymes, and human tumor cell proliferation by natural food colors. J Agric.Food Chem 11-16-2005;53(23):9268-9273. View abstract.
  • Rojas, J. J., Ochoa, V. J., Ocampo, S. A., and Munoz, J. F. Screening for antimicrobial activity of ten medicinal plants used in Colombian folkloric medicine: a possible alternative in the treatment of non-nosocomial infections. BMC.Complement Altern Med 2006;6:2. View abstract.
  • Russell, K. R., Morrison, E. Y., and Ragoobirsingh, D. The effect of annatto on insulin binding properties in the dog. Phytother Res 2005;19(5):433-436. View abstract.
  • Russell, K. R., Omoruyi, F. O., Pascoe, K. O., and Morrison, E. Y. Hypoglycaemic activity of Bixa orellana extract in the dog. Methods Find.Exp.Clin.Pharmacol. 2008;30(4):301-305. View abstract.
  • SCHNEIDER, W. P., CARON, E. L., and HINMAN, J. W. OCCURRENCE OF TOMENTOSIC ACID IN EXTRACTS OF BIXA ORELLANA. J Org Chem 1965;30:2856-2857. View abstract.
  • Scotter, M. The chemistry and analysis of annatto food colouring:a review. Food Additives & Contaminants 2009;26(8):1123-1145.
  • Shilpi, J. A., Taufiq-Ur-Rahman, M., Uddin, S. J., Alam, M. S., Sadhu, S. K., and Seidel, V. Preliminary pharmacological screening of Bixa orellana L. leaves. J Ethnopharmacol 11-24-2006;108(2):264-271. View abstract.
  • Evaluation of certain food additives and contaminants. World Health Organ Tech.Rep.Ser. 2007;(940):1-92, 1. View abstract.
  • Fernandes, A. C., Almeida, C. A., Albano, F., Laranja, G. A., Felzenszwalb, I., Lage, C. L., de Sa, C. C., Moura, A. S., and Kovary, K. Norbixin ingestion did not induce any detectable DNA breakage in liver and kidney but caused a considerable impairment in plasma glucose levels of rats and mice. J Nutr Biochem 2002;13(7):411-420. View abstract.
  • Fleischer, T. C., Ameade, E. P., Mensah, M. L., and Sawer, I. K. Antimicrobial activity of the leaves and seeds of Bixa orellana. Fitoterapia 2003;74(1-2):136-138. View abstract.
  • Galindo-Cuspinera, V., Westhoff, D. C., and Rankin, S. A. Antimicrobial properties of commercial annatto extracts against selected pathogenic, lactic acid, and spoilage microorganisms. J Food Prot. 2003;66(6):1074-1078. View abstract.
  • Gomez-Ortiz, N. M., Vázquez-Maldonado, I. A., Pérez-Espadas, A. R., Mena-Rejón, G. J., and Azamar-Barrios, J. A. Dye-sensitized solar cells with natural dyes extraced from achiote seeds. Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells 2010;94(1):40-44.
  • Hagiwara, A., Imai, N., Doi, Y., Nabae, K., Hirota, T., Yoshino, H., Kawabe, M., Tsushima, Y., Aoki, H., Yasuhara, K., Koda, T., Nakamura, M., and Shirai, T. Absence of liver tumor promoting effects of annatto extract (norbixin), a natural carotenoid food color, in a medium-term liver carcinogenesis bioassay using male F344 rats. Cancer Lett 9-10-2003;199(1):9-17. View abstract.
  • Hagiwara, A., Imai, N., Ichihara, T., Sano, M., Tamano, S., Aoki, H., Yasuhara, K., Koda, T., Nakamura, M., and Shirai, T. A thirteen-week oral toxicity study of annatto extract (norbixin), a natural food color extracted from the seed coat of annatto (Bixa orellana L.), in Sprague-Dawley rats. Food Chem Toxicol 2003;41(8):1157-1164. View abstract.
  • Junior, A. C., Asad, L. M., Oliveira, E. B., Kovary, K., Asad, N. R., and Felzenszwalb, I. Antigenotoxic and antimutagenic potential of an annatto pigment (norbixin) against oxidative stress. Genet.Mol.Res 3-31-2005;4(1):94-99. View abstract.
  • Kovary, K., Louvain, T. S., Costa e Silva MC, Albano, F., Pires, B. B., Laranja, G. A., Lage, C. L., and Felzenszwalb, I. Biochemical behaviour of norbixin during in vitro DNA damage induced by reactive oxygen species. Br J Nutr 2001;85(4):431-440. View abstract.
  • Levy, L. W., Regalado, E., Navarrete, S., and Watkins, R. H. Bixin and norbixin in human plasma: determination and study of the absorption of a single dose of Annatto food color. Analyst 1997;122(9):977-980. View abstract.
  • Martinez-Tome, M., Jimenez, A. M., Ruggieri, S., Frega, N., Strabbioli, R., and Murcia, M. A. Antioxidant properties of Mediterranean spices compared with common food additives. J Food Prot. 2001;64(9):1412-1419. View abstract.
  • McCullagh, J. V. and Ramos, N. Separation of the Carotenod Bixin from Annatto Seeds Using Thin-Layer and Column Chromatograpy. Journal of Chemical Education 2008;85(7):948-950.
  • Mercandante, A. Z., Steck, A., Rodriguez-Amaya, D., Pfander, H., and Britton, G. Isolation of methyl 9'Z-apo-6'-lycopenoate from Bixa orellana. Phytochemistry 1996;41(4):1201-1203.
  • Morrison, E. Y., Thompson, H., Pascoe, K., West, M., and Fletcher, C. Extraction of an hyperglycaemic principle from the annatto (Bixa orellana), a medicinal plant in the West Indies. Trop.Geogr.Med 1991;43(1-2):184-188. View abstract.
  • Agner, A. R., Barbisan, L. F., Scolastici, C., and Salvadori, D. M. Absence of carcinogenic and anticarcinogenic effects of annatto in the rat liver medium-term assay. Food Chem Toxicol 2004;42(10):1687-1693. View abstract.
  • Agner, A. R., Bazo, A. P., Ribeiro, L. R., and Salvadori, D. M. DNA damage and aberrant crypt foci as putative biomarkers to evaluate the chemopreventive effect of annatto (Bixa orellana L.) in rat colon carcinogenesis. Mutat.Res 4-4-2005;582(1-2):146-154. View abstract.
  • Alves de Lima, R. O., Azevedo, L., Ribeiro, L. R., and Salvadori, D. M. Study on the mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of a natural food colour (annatto) in mouse bone marrow cells. Food Chem Toxicol 2003;41(2):189-192. View abstract.
  • Antunes, L. M., Pascoal, L. M., Bianchi, Mde L., and Dias, F. L. Evaluation of the clastogenicity and anticlastogenicity of the carotenoid bixin in human lymphocyte cultures. Mutat.Res 8-1-2005;585(1-2):113-119. View abstract.
  • Baelmans, R., Deharo, E., Bourdy, G., Munoz, V., Quenevo, C., Sauvain, M., and Ginsburg, H. A search for natural bioactive compounds in Bolivia through a multidisciplinary approach. Part IV. Is a new haem polymerisation inhibition test pertinent for the detection of antimalarial natural products? J Ethnopharmacol 2000;73(1-2):271-275. View abstract.
  • Barcelos, G. R., Angeli, J. P., Serpeloni, J. M., Rocha, B. A., Mantovani, M. S., and Antunes, L. M. Effect of annatto on micronuclei induction by direct and indirect mutagens in HepG2 cells. Environ.Mol.Mutagen. 2009;50(9):808-814. View abstract.
  • Bautista, A. R., Moreira, E. L., Batista, M. S., Miranda, M. S., and Gomes, I. C. Subacute toxicity assessment of annatto in rat. Food Chem Toxicol 2004;42(4):625-629. View abstract.
  • Braga, F. G., Bouzada, M. L., Fabri, R. L., de, O. Matos, Moreira, F. O., Scio, E., and Coimbra, E. S. Antileishmanial and antifungal activity of plants used in traditional medicine in Brazil. J.Ethnopharmacol. 5-4-2007;111(2):396-402. View abstract.
  • Bressani, R., Porta-Espana, de Barneon, Braham, J. E., Elias, L. G., and Gomez-Brenes, R. [Chemical composition, amino acid content and nutritive value of the protein of the annatto seed (Bixa orellana, L.)]. Arch Latinoam.Nutr 1983;33(2):356-376. View abstract.
  • Caceres, A., Menendez, H., Mendez, E., Cohobon, E., Samayoa, B. E., Jauregui, E., Peralta, E., and Carrillo, G. Antigonorrhoeal activity of plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. J Ethnopharmacol 1995;48(2):85-88. View abstract.
  • Castello, M. C., Phatak, A., Chandra, N., and Sharon, M. Antimicrobial activity of crude extracts from plant parts and corresponding calli of Bixa orellana L. Indian J Exp Biol 2002;40(12):1378-1381. View abstract.
  • Ciscar, F. Achiotin, an extract of achiote seeds (Bixa orellana L.), as a histologic stain for lipids. Stain Technol 1965;40(5):249-251. View abstract.
  • Coleman, W. Molecular Models of Annatto Seeds Components. Journal of Chemical Education 2008;85(7):1008-1009.
  • Cunha, F. G., Santos, K. G., Ataide, C. H., Epstein, N., and Barrozo, M. A. S. Annatto Powder Production in a Sprouted Bed: An Experimental and CFD Study. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 2009;48(2):976-982.
  • De Oliveira, A. C., Silva, I. B., Manhaes-Rocha, D. A., and Paumgartten, F. J. Induction of liver monooxygenases by annatto and bixin in female rats. Braz.J Med Biol Res 2003;36(1):113-118. View abstract.
  • Ebo, D. G., Ingelbrecht, S., Bridts, C. H., and Stevens, W. J. Allergy for cheese: evidence for an IgE-mediated reaction from the natural dye annatto. Allergy 2009;64(10):1558-1560. View abstract.

Vitamins Survey

Have you ever purchased ANNATTO?

Did you or will you purchase this product in-store or online?

Where did you or where do you plan to purchase this product?

Where did you or where do you plan to purchase this product?

What factors influenced or will influence your purchase? (check all that apply)

Vitamins Survey

Where did you or where do you plan to purchase this product?

Do you buy vitamins online or instore?

What factors are most important to you? (check all that apply)

Thanks for taking our survey!

Recommended For You

Vitamins and Minerals A-Z

More Resources for ANNATTO

Search for another Vitamin

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2018.