ANNATO TREE

ANNATO TREE

(Bixa orelana Linn.)

Annanto tree (Bixa orellana Linn. Family Bixa-ceae) grows wildly in the trophical area of America and is cultivated in trophical area of India, eastern Africa and also widely cultivated in Brazil and Peru. Its fruit contain 15-20 seeds embedded in a gooey bright red pulp.

Chemical Constituents:

The main constituent present in the fruit is 9’-cis-bixin, which is lipid-soluble methyl ester of a C-24 dicarboxylic acid 9’-cis-norbixin; cis-bixin occurs along with small quantities of trans bixin and cis-norbixins.

Health Food:

The crude product is used to prepare oily extracts, water-soluble extracts or sprays containing 0.2-0.3% bixin, which are used for coloring the food products. Major food categories in which annatto colour is used include alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, frozen dairy desserts, baked goods, meat and meat products, condiments, fats and oils ( salad oil, popcorn oil, margarine and sausages).