Atsuete

Posted on August 23, 2011 Updated on August 5, 2012

Atsuete
Bixa orellana Linn.
Bixa katagensis Delpierre
LIPSTICK PLANT / ANNATTO

Gen Info
Next to caramel, annatto is the world’s most important natural colorant yielding yello to red colors. There is global commercial production of the seed, estimated in 1990 at 10,000 tons per year; Brazil being the largest exported.

Botany
A tree reaching 4 to 6 meters. Leaves are entire, ovate, 8 to 20 cm long, 5 to 12 cm wide, with a broad and heart-shaped base, and a pointed tip. The flowers are white or pinkish, 4 to 6 cm diameter, 4 to 6 cm in diameter on terminal panicles. Capsules are ovoid or rounded, reddish brown, about 4 cm long and covered with long, slender and soft spines containing many small seeds covered with a dye-yielding red pulp.

Distribution
Pantropic; planted throughout the Philippines.

Chemical constituents and characteristics
The coloring matter in the seeds is bixin.
Seed contains a fatty oil with palmitin, a little stearin, and phytosterol.
Fine powder covering the seed is hemostatic and stomachic.
Root-bark is antiperiodic and antipyretic.
Diuretic and purgative.
Aphrodisiac and detoxifier.
Seeds are slightly astringent.
The pulp (annatto) surrounding the seeds is astringent and slightly purgative.
Study of carotenoid pigments in the seeds identified bixin, norbixin, ß-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin and methyl bixin.

Parts utilized

Leaves, bark and seeds.

Uses
Folkloric
· For small burns: Wash the leaves with soap and water. Boil 10 leaves in 5 glasses of water; cool. Soak the burn area for 10 minues, once a day.
· The pulp of the seeds, immediately applied to burns, prevents blistering and scarring.
· The seeds, ground and boiled, also used for burns.
· Fresh seeds when moistened produce a reddish colored juice that is applied to red rashes.
· The seeds are used as antidote for cassava and J. urcas poisoning.
· The achuete dye used with lime for the treatment of erysipelas.
· Also used for wound healing, regulation of heavy menses, and thinning hair.
· The leaf, bruised with the head of a “walis-tingting” (broom made from frond ribs of the coconut leaves), mixed with warm coconut oil is applied on the forehead for headaches.
· An infusion of the leaves used as purgative.
· Poultice of leaves are diuretic and used for treatment of gonorrhea.
· Leaves for snake bites
· Decoction of leaves for nausea and vomiting.
• In traditional Peruvian medicine, used to treat heartburn and stomach distress caused by spicy foods; also, as a vaginal antiseptic and cicatrizant.
• In West Indian folk medicine, used for diabetes mellitus.
• In Guatemala used for treatment of gonorrhea.
Others
· The main product from B. orellana is an organic dye present in the seed coat called “annatto,” lipid-soluble and widely used in the food industry for its red to orange-yellow colours (cheese, butter, oils, margarine, ice-cream, pastries). Next to caramel, it is the world’s second most important food colorant.Besides providing an attractive color to meat and other dishes, it also imparts a subtle and distinctive flavour. In the cosmetic industry it finds use in hair, nail and soap products, and also in the many of the household products – floor wax, shoe polish, russet leather, wood stains.
• Female aphrodisiac in the Amazonia.

Studies
• Antimicrobial / Antifungal: (1) The study screened plants extracts – including Bixa orellana – for antimicrobial activity and MIC. B orellana showed low MIC against against E coli and a better MIC against B cereus. Results showed that Bixa orellana, Justicia secunda and Piper pulchrum could be potential sources of new antimicrobial agents. (2) Study of organic extract of BO showed to possess a narrow spectrum of antimicrobial activity, effective only against Gram+ bacteria used in the study.
• Antibacterial / Antioxidant / Antidiarrheal / Neuropharmacolic / Anticonvulsant/ Gastrointestinal Motility Effect: Preliminary pharmacologic studies on the methanol extracts of BO leaves showed statistical decrease in locomotor activity, anticonvulsant effect, analgesic and antidiarrheal effect and a delay i gastrointestinal motility. It also showed radical scavenging properties and antibacterial activity against agents of diarrhea and dysentery.
• Hypoglycemic / Antidiabetic: (1) Study of BO oil seed suspension of the red seed coat showed it to be a potent hypoglycemic agent. Extract study showed hypoglycemia in both normal and streptozotocin diabetic dogs. (2) Annatto extract was found to decrease blood glucose in fasting normoglycemic and streptozocin-induced diabetic dogs. The activity was attributed to the stimulation of peripheral utilization of glucose.
• Milk-based pigment: Study showed B orellana seeds can be used as a pigment in making milk-based paint.
• Anti-Gonorrheal: In a study of 46 plants popularly used in Guatemala for the treatment of gonorrhea, B orellana bark was one of the most active plants that inhibited strains of freshly isolated N gonorrhea.
• Antibacterial / Anti-Staphylococcal Activity: Study showed crude ethanolic extracts from leaves of B orellana and bark of Alstonia macrophylla showed potential antibacterial effect against S aureus.
• Aldose Reductase Inhibition: Study of hot water extracts of B orellana, C morifolim and I batatas showed potent inhibitory activity towards lens aldose reductase. Phytochemicals yielded isoscutellarein from B orellana as its potent inhibitor.

Availability
Wild-crafted.
Small scale local cultivation for condiment and food colorant.
Worldwide production of annatto seeds for commercial and home use.

http://www.stuartxchange.org/Asuete.html

Anise

Posted on August 23, 2011 Updated on August 5, 2012

The Health Benefits of Anise

Anise is an annual herb that grows up to eighteen inches in height. Though native to Egypt and the Mediterranean region, it is now being grown all over the world. Its flowers are small, yellowish white and grow in umbels, whereas the leaves are feather shaped. The fruit of anise is oblong and grayish white in color. It is this part that has a wide variety of medicinal as well as culinary uses. In fact, its use dates as far back as the ancient era.

Different periods of time saw anise being used for different purposes. For instance, in the seventh century, anise was used as a remedy for curing coughs and also the Romans used it to control bad breath. In the sixteenth century, owing to its feathery appearance, it was used often as bait to trap mice. Due to its popularity, anise was listed as a taxable drug in the

Anise Supplements

Even today, anise is a very widely used herb. It is especially known for its digestive properties. Anise seeds are consumed after meals to help in the process of digestion. If crushed and added to tea, not only does it enhance the flavor, but also works as a digestive and helps relieve the problem of flatulence.

Anise, due to its antimicrobial properties, is found in a lot of over the counter remedies. The oil extracted from anise seeds is used as an expectorant. It relieves congestion by working on the secretary cells in the respiratory tract.

Though anise can be used to treat a wide range of medical conditions, a word of caution is in order. It is recommended that people with high blood pressure should not consume anise as it might exacerbate the condition, though there is no concrete scientific evidence for this.

Anise is also a popular culinary herb that is used extensively in cooking and liqueurs. Also, due to its fresh scent, it is often used as a herbal fragrance in aroma therapy. Moreover, anise is added to oral hygiene products like toothpaste and mouthwash in order to enhance their flavor and effectiveness.

Back in the ancient times, the Romans used anise to make scented oils and soaps. Perhaps the tradition of wedding cakes can be traced back to the Roman period when anise tea and cake were served after a wedding feast.

http://www.herbal-supplement-resource.com/anise-benefits.html

Anise Health Benefits

Rev. Carla Goddard, B.Msc., Yahoo! Contributor Network
Feb 27, 2008

If you lived in the 16th century you would think mice if you heard the word anise. The feathery appearance of the leaves attracted mice like cheese. In the 7th century it was used for coughs, the Romans used it to cure bad breath, in the 14th century a tax was levied on the herb due to its popularity.

The flower of anise is a small yellowish white petal umbel. The part of the herb that is used in both culinary and medicinal applications is the fruit which is a flat, oval seed that is gray to brown in color.

Native only to Egypt and the Mediterranean region, this herb has a long reputation of being a digestive aid. It is now cultivated in almost every region of the world. A simple tea made of the the crushed seeds works well to not only aid in digestion but stop the flatulence that sometimes is associated. It is a pleasant way to end any meal.

It is also used as an expectorant and mild antimicrobial which is why today in many of the over the counter products, one of the main ingredients is anise. It is the essential oil of the seed that has proven to react on the secretory cells of the respiratory tract. The flavor of anise is licorice which gives the medicinal benefits an added bonus.

It should be noted that although not proven scientifically, those with high blood pressure should avoid anise. In some people it has been shown to increase the blood pressure.

For the most part however, this herb is used as a flavoring in culinary dishes as well as in liqueurs.

It is a great herb for aromatic therapy. It was widely cultivated by the Romans for its fragrance and was used in soaps, oils, and mouth fresheners. Take whole seeds and place them in a sachet to flood your senses of the light fragrance. The seeds are ground up often and added to natural toothpastes and mouthwashes to aid in the flavoring.

Some believe that the tradition of the wedding cake in history relates back to anise. After a wedding feast anise tea and cake was served by the Romans.

Another interesting fact that is not well known about anise is that as catnip is to cats, anise is to dogs.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/622783/anise_health_benefits.html