Urucum (Bixa orellana)


Family

  • Bixaceae

Components

  • Provitamin A
  • Carotenoids (pigments): bixin, betabixin, norbixin, orelin, b-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin
  • Flavonoids: apigenin, hypoaletin, cosmosiin
  • Diterpenes: farnesylacetone, geranylgeraniol and geranyl formate
  • Essential oil (sesquiterpene): bixaghanene
  • Traces of alkaloids and gallic acid
  • Phosphorus

Parts used

  • Leaves and seeds
  • Urucum is safe for most people when used as a skin ointment or consumed as paprika in small amounts in the diet. 
  • For Urucum leaves, it is recommended to use up to 750 mg per day for a maximum of 12 months, and for seeds, prolonged use should be avoided as there is not enough information to know if they are safe or what the side effects may be.
  • Urucum can cause allergies and medical help should be sought immediately or the nearest emergency room if allergic symptoms such as difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting or convulsions occur.

Contraindications

  • Urucum should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women as there are not enough studies to prove its safety.
  • In addition, Urucum should be used with caution by people taking diabetes medications such as glimepiride or insulin, as it may cause a sudden drop in blood glucose and lead to the onset of hypoglycaemic symptoms such as excessive sweating, nervousness, restlessness, tremors, confusion, palpitations or fainting.

How to use

  • Urucum leaf tea: Add 8 to 12 dried or fresh urucum leaves to one litre of boiling water. Leave to stand for 5 minutes and strain. It is recommended to drink a maximum of 3 cups per day.
  • Urucum seed tea: Add 1 tablespoon of urucum seeds to 1 litre of boiling water and leave to infuse for 15 minutes. Remove the seeds and drink 2 to 3 cups a day.
  • Urucum capsules: You can take 1 capsule of 250 mg urucum before meals up to 3 times a day. These capsules are available in pharmacies, drugstores and health food stores.