Stable tocotrienol with immunomodulating action

Lyophilisation process of Annatto Bixa Orellana L. powder comprising the steps of:

• a) providing Annatto seed powder with a tocotrienol content >35% (w/w);
• b) freezing Annatto powder at a temperature of <-15° C.;
• c) submitting the frozen powder according to phase (b) to a freeze-drying process characterized in that the freeze-drying step (c) comprises the sub-steps of
• i) performing a first drying step at a pressure of <2.5 mbar and a temperature between
• −45° C. and 0° C.;
• ii) performing a second drying step, following the first drying step (i), at a constant pressure greater than the pressure of the first drying, at a temperature between 0° C. and 20° C.,
• wherein the Annatto powder resulting from the freeze-drying phase (c) has a tocotrienol content ≥39% (w/w).