Bixa orellana is a nonedible fruit from the Amazon forest in Peru. The seeds are used as a dye. The Bixa orellana fruits have been found in old civilizations in Peru - such as the ancient cities of Caral and Casma - dating as far back as 5000 years ago. The natives used to mix lime and coca as a powerful inhalant psychedelic and intoxicant.
   Also known as Achiote, or Achiotl, Bixa orellana is a shrub or small tree from the tropical regions of the Americas, also known also by its Tupi name of urucum. We could not find published human studies that evaluated the side effects of this herb.

Bixa Orellana and blood sugar
Hypoglycaemic activity of Bixa orellana extract in the dog.
Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol. 2008 May; Russell KR, Omoruyi FO, Pascoe KO, Morrison EY. Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Biochemistry Section, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies.
In West Indian folklore, Bixa orellana (annatto), is commonly used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. This present investigation sought to determine the effects of the glucose-lowering Bixa orellana extract on C-peptide and streptozotocin-induced diabetic dogs. This Bixa orellana extract was found to decrease blood glucose levels in fasting normoglycaemic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic dogs. In addition, in normal dogs, it suppressed the postprandial rise in blood glucose after an oral glucose load. Interestingly, the extract also caused an increase in insulin-to-glucose ratio in normal dogs. Increased insulin levels were not due to increased insulin synthesis as after 1-h residence time and half-hour postprandial, decreased C-peptide levels was observed. It was concluded that Bixa orellana (annatto) lowered blood glucose by stimulating peripheral utilization of glucose.

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Annatto information
Annatto is a pigment derived from the seeds of Bixa orellana. It has been used from antiquity in South America and for over 100 years in Europe. It is now an important safe additive for a wide range of food, partly finding favor due to its natural origin. Bixa orellana is best known as the source of annatto. The Bixa orellana fruit is not edible, but is used for the orange-red pulp that covers the seeds. There appears to be increased human use of annatto, a red yellow food colorant.
   Various plants are used in Caribbean folklore for the treatment of a variety of illnesses including diabetes mellitus. Preliminary investigations of several crude plant extracts have indicated that Bixa orellana, among others, does in fact exhibit hypoglycemic properties.

Norbixin is an unusual dicarboxylic water-soluble carotenoid present as a component in the pericarp of the seeds of Bixa orellana L. (from the Bixaceae family), a tropical shrub commonly found in Brazil. The main carotenoids present in these seeds, bixin and norbixin, form a coloring material, known as annatto, which is mainly used in the food industry. As annatto is only used as a coloring material, most studies of annatto pigments have focused on the determination of annatto levels in food. However these carotenoids have potent antioxidant and antitumor activity.

Bixa orellana is purported to have aphrodisiac properties.

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