Bixin is an apocarotenoid found in the seeds of the achiote tree (Bixa orellana)[2] from which it derives its name. It is commonly extracted from the seeds to form annatto, a natural food coloring, containing about 5% pigments, of which 70–80% are bixin.[3]

Applications

Red seeds of the achiote tree
Bixin is one of the colorants used in the snack Cheetos.

Several thousand tons are harvested annually.[4]

Chemical properties

Bixin is unstable. It isomerizes into trans-bixin (β-bixin), the double-bond isomer.[1]

Chemical structure of trans-bixin

Bixin is soluble in fats and alcohols but insoluble in water. Upon exposure to alkali, the methyl ester is hydrolyzed to produce the dicarboxylic acid norbixin, a water-soluble derivative.

Chemical structure of norbixin

References

  1. ^ a b Merck Index, 11th Edition, 1320
  2. ^ Bouvier, Florence; Dogbo, Odette; Camara, Bilal (2003). "Biosynthesis of the Food and Cosmetic Plant Pigment Bixin (Annatto)". Science. 300 (5628): 2089–2091. Bibcode:2003Sci...300.2089B. doi:10.1126/science.1085162. ISSN 0036-8075. JSTOR 3834418. PMID 12829782. S2CID 560600.
  3. ^ Executive Summary Bixin Archived July 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, National Toxicology Program
  4. ^ Stringheta, Paulo C.; Silva, Pollyanna I.; Costa, André G.V. (2018). "Annatto/Urucum— Bixa orellana". Exotic Fruits. pp. 23–30. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-803138-4.00006-X. ISBN 9780128031384.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bixin
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