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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.
Seeds are slightly astringent.
The pulp (annatto) surrounding the seeds is astringent and slightly
purgative.
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.
Others
· Seeds used locally for coloring food; for coloring butter.
· As a colorant, also used for various polishes for russet
leather.
· Seeds when soaked provide a red-tinged colorant use
for cooking meats, imparts a subtle taste.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
Small scale cultivation as condiment and food colorant.
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