[Analysis of the seed Bixa orellana, L. (annatto) and the waste generated in the extraction of its pigments].

Annatto seed (Bixa orellana, L.) contains colored pigments (bixin and orelline) on its outer surface which at present are currently used as coloring agents in the food industry. This seed was analyzed, with and without the pigment--which was extracted by the vegetable oil method--so as to establish the possible use of the extracted seed which nowadays is considered as waste. Different dehulling and defatting treatments were applied to the annatto seed in order to obtain a flour with a greater protein content, and to diminish its crude fiber level. The different flours were then subjected to proximate analysis; protein quality was determined by amino acid analysis, and toxicological factors, mineral and vitamin contents, fatty acid profile, breakdown potential by measurement of feed digestion in the rumen of fistulated goats, fiber fractions, and bacteriological determinations were also performed. A protein content of 13.7% was determined in the seed without pigment, which increased to 14.8% with the dehulling and defatting procedures, thus reducing the crude fiber level from 14.4% to 6.5%. The results showed that the limiting amino acid is tryptophan. The toxicity level was found to be of no importance, and the vitamin and mineral content as well as the fiber fractions were very similar to those determined in cereals, but with a higher level of carotenoids. A satisfactory dry matter degradation index was obtained in the digestibility test done in ruminants. According to the above-mentioned results, it is possible to use this resource as a feed and, when mixed with other materials, as a food in human nutrition.