Annatto Extract

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

Contents

• Uses
• Benefits
• Cautions
• Interactions
• Other names
• References

Uses

• It is a red plant extract that is used as to color food, textiles and even body care products. Annatto comes from achiote shrub seeds, and is mainly used as a red food coloring. Produced in South America, achiote seeds have been used by tribes for centuries.

Benefits

• It has many health benefits, which include reducing acid, killing bacteria, fighting free radicals, and lowering blood pressure. Traditionally, the crushed seeds of the achiote shrub are soaked in water. Ancient Mayans used it to color food. The Piura tribe makes a tea with it that is used topically to treat skin conditions.
• 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.

Cautions

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

• • 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.
    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.

Other names

Achiote, Achiotillo, Annato, Annotta, Arbre Rouge à Lèvre, Arnotta, Bija, Bixa orellana, Latkan, Lipstick Tree, Rocou, Rocouyer, Roucou

References

Source:

WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-23-annatto.aspx?activeingredientid=23&activeingredientname=annatto

Naturally savvy, http://naturallysavvy.com/eat/what-is-annatto-a-natural-food-coloring-exposed