লটকন / Lipstick Tree Scientific Name : Bixa orellana L
লটকন
Anatto/Annatto/Arnatto/Lipstick Tree
Family: Bixaceae
A shurub or small tree Bixa orellana is a plant native to Brazil but grows in other regions of South and Central America. It is grown in tropical countries such as Peru, Mexico, Ecuador, Indonesia, India, Srilanka, Kenya,Philippine and East Africa. There is no relation of this shrub/tree with our local fruit “LATKON” In some of the Pacific islands, it is an introduced species which has become an invasive one, and it is classed as invasive in Hawaii. In Bangladesh this grows all over the country. The name Bixa orellana is derived from Francisco de Orellana, a 16tth century Spanish explorer. Bixa orellana/Lipstick tree Grows 5 to 10 m tall. Its leaves are alternate, acuminate and entire. They are 8 to 12 cm long and 8 cm wide. The pinkish-white flowers are grouped in terminal clusters. They have 5 petals. The fruit is an ovoid brown capsule, 3 to 5 cm long, covered in soft, innocuous spines. Each fruit contains about 50 red seeds. The pinkish white flowers develop into bright red heart shaped, exceedingly bristly fruit. When ripe the fruit capsule breaks open and reveals an abundance of seeds embedded in orange-red pulp. The bush produces copious amounts of fruit: a single tree can yield up to 270kg Flowering Season : April – May Lipstick tree flowers open before dawn, when they are visited by large bees. Smaller bees also visit them in the morning. These insects harvest the abundant pollen from the flowers, which do not produce any nectar. The flowers fade around noon and the corolla drops off in late afternoon. In history ancient Maya and Aztecs regarded it as a symbolic substitute for blood and thus ascribed to it sacred connotations. It was also used to make ink and virtually all the ancient Maya scriptures were penned in annatto juice. The seeds also have a reputation as a female aphrodisiac and are believed to make bulls used for bullfighting more aggressive. The whole tree has a long history as a valued medicinal plant that has been used to treat a wide variety of conditions from fevers to cancer. Indigenous people still use the pulp for ‘cosmetic purposes’, as hair dye or lip stick, that is why in English the common name of the tree is ‘Lipstick tree’. In the food industry, it is used to color butter, margarine, mayonnaise, sauces, mustard, sausage, soup, juice, ice cream, bakery products, macaroni, and cheese. It is also widely used in the printing industry and dye manufacturing. Many Aborigines use annatto for dyeing, where the dye is naturally obtained as a mixture and used to color ceramics and other vases for domestic use. In addition indigenous people use this dye on their skin to beautify themselves during religious rituals and also to protect themselves from mosquitoes that infest forests. As the Saffron is expensive and annatto used for food coloring and widely available and cheap that is reason it is called as “ Poor men’s Saffron”. Thus, despite the different culture and traditions among the countries in South and Central America, several of the popular uses of Bixa orellana are the same, for example, antipyretic, aphrodisiac, antidiarrheal, antidiabetic, and insect repellent. Believed it can also protect skin from ultraviolet radiation Although its history of use as a food coloring is well established worldwide, current trends show that it is used increasingly in body care products. Annatto oil is an emollient, and its high carotenoid content provides beneficial antioxidant properties. In body care products, annatto oil provides antioxidant benefits while adding a rich, sunny color to creams, lotions, and shampoos. Below table show the use of Bixa orellana as medicine show its importance and medicinal Value : Please note above table used as reference only. The information provided above is not intended to be used as a guide for treatment of medical conditions using plants.
Lipstik tree has nectar-bearing glands on the branches, knots and flower and fruit stems. These glands are active on the branches when the leaves are very young. On the stems, they are active from the time flowering starts until the tree has finished producing fruit. The ants attracted by these sweet secretions protect the tree from herbivorous insects. Birds eat the seeds. Neither vines nor epiphytes grow on this tree.
Analysis of annatto seeds suggest that they contain 40% to 45% cellulose, 3.5% to 5.5% sucrose, 0.3% to 0.9% essential oil, 3% fixed oil, 4.5% to 5.5% pigments, and 13% to 16% protein, as well as alpha- and beta-carotenoids and other constituents. Ailments Country used Remedy How to Use References Aids in healing of minor wounds and burns, prevents scaring and blisters Mixture of red pulp and oil Apply to skin Leeuwenberg 1987, Morton 1981, Quisumbing 1951 Ailments of the womb or uterus and a female aphrodisiac Decoction of leaves and red coloring matter Drink Morton 1981 Antidote to prussic acid poisoning Northwest Amazonia Dye Drink Morton 1981, Schultes & Raffauf 1990 Anti-inflammatory Decoction Honychurch 1980, Martinez 1959 Asthma, pleurisy, labored breathing Decoction of leaves Drink Morton 1981 Astringent Pulp surrounding seeds Quisumbing 1951 Bring out measles quickly, relieves stomachaches and asthma Seed pulp dissolved in warm water Drink Morton 1981 Burn treatment Uruguay Seeds ground and boiled in oil Apply to burns Quisumbing 1951 Certain skin diseases Philippines Red, resinous substance of seeds Quisumbing 1951 Antipyretic and antiperiodic Philippines Root-bark Quisumbing 1951 Cleanse from poisoning and to refresh Leaves in baths Go in bath Ayensu 1981, Honychurch 1980 Diabetes, flu, venereal diseases West Indies Aqueous and rum infusions of root Drink Ayensu 1981 Digestive properties Root Schultes & Raffauf 1990 Diuretic, purgative, treats gonorrhea Gum made from crushed leaves mixed with water (ingest) Swallow Martinez 1959, Morton 1981, Quisumbing 1951 Diuretic, treatment of jaundice, diabetes, influenza and venereal diseases Trinidad Root decoction Drink Morton 1981 Dysentery Yucatan Root decoction Drink Morton 1981 Febrifuge Cambodia Leaves Quisumbing 1951 Fevers Philippines Root-bark Quisumbing 1951 Halt diarrhea and shrink hemorrhoids Decoction of empty seed capsule Drink Morton 1981 Headaches Leaves oiled Apply to forehead Leeuwenberg 1987, Morton 1981, Quisumbing 1951 Inflammation, colic, or the heat Leaves (3-7) boiled with sugar Drink Ayensu 1981, Honychurch 1980 Jaundice remedy Decoction (sweetened) of seeds Drink Ayensu 1981, Morton 1981, Quisumbing 1951 Kidney diseases Pulp surrounding seeds Quisumbing 1951 Leprosy treatment Central America Oil derived from seeds Chopra 1949, Morton 1981, Quisumbing 1951 Liver trouble Venezuela Decoction of leafy branch tips Drink Morton 1981 Oral and throat inflammation Decoction of leaves Drink Morton 1981 Purgative in dysentery French Guiana Seed infusion Quisumbing 1951 Snake bite Leaves Quisumbing 1951 Sore throat Decoction of Leaves Gargle Morton 1981 Stomachache Pulp Morton 1981, Quisumbing 1951 Stops nausea and vomiting Surinam Decoction of leaves Drink Morton 1981 Throat relief Philippines Mix dye with coconut Apply to throat Quisumbing 1951 Worms for children Decoction of Leaves Drink Ayensu 1981, Honychurch 1980
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