Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants
Bixa orellana
Family: Bixaceae (Annatto family)
Genus: Bixa
Botanical name: Bixa orellana
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Sanskrit:
Hindi: Latkan English: Lipstick tree, Annatto, Arnatto
Malayalam: Kuragumagal
Genus: Bixa
Botanical name: Bixa orellana
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Sanskrit:
Hindi: Latkan English: Lipstick tree, Annatto, Arnatto
Malayalam: Kuragumagal
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
An evergreen shrub or small bushy tree, 2-8 m high and up to 30 cm in stem diameter with white and pink flowers and red fruits. Stem color varying from green to red.
The root bark is reportedly antiperiodic and in the treatment of fevers. The decoction of leaves used as a gargle for sore throat. An infusion is given in jaundice and in dysentery. The pulp surrounding the seed is widely employed in medicine as a haemostatic, astringent, antidysenteric, diuretic, laxative, febrifuge and digestive. It is also prescribed in the treatment of epilepsy and skin diseases.