Natural Food and Pharmaceutical Colors
Given below are the list of the plant derived colors used in food and medicines(even the capsule colors).
Most of these are well known herbal medicines.
They impart a number of other benefits also.
Most of the colors like saffron, turmeric that are used in food, are good preservatives (antioxidants).
I would suggest utilizing a large number of colors from sources such as tree barks in food.
Most of these colors are proanthocyanidins so are very effective antioxidants.
So are the flavonoids abundant in leaves.
A culinary preparation colored by natural colors will effectively protect the body of the consumer from oxidative damage.
Since the free radicals are now believed to be responsible for diabetes, cardiac failure, brain damage, many types of cancer etc. the antioxidants added to food will definitely be protective in nature and will add years to the life of a consumer.
These antioxidants will increase the shelf life of foods too.
These antioxidants will, not only benefit the person but, will increase the shelf life of the active components, and may provide a congenial environment (free from microbes because most of the phenolics are antimicrobial) as also protecting the lipids and membrane systems at the site of activity of the drug for a better drug action. An extract of Arjuna or Sariva if used as a color, will thin the blood, reduce the agglutination of RBC and purify the blood.
Flavonoids as dyes will reduce the incidence of vascular purpurea and strengthen capillary walls. All these compounds reduce the aging process because of their antioxidant properties. Similarly anthocyanins as dyes will help in increased vision and reduce the incidence of cataract.
Phenolic colors
Turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn. - Zingiberaceae) The antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer properties of curcumins are well known.
Bhringaraja (Eclipta alba Hassk. - Asteraceae) This is hepatoprotective (antihepatotoxic) due to wedelolactone and demethylwedelolactone. It is also antimyotoxic and antihaemorrhagic in nature. The leaves are used to dye grey hairs black and the juice is used for tattooing.
Wedelia chinensis Merril (Asteraceae ), also known as Bhringaraj,
Kokam (Garcinia indica Chois.- Clusiaceae) The fruit rind contains camboginol and benzophenone derivatives, garcinol and isogarcinol This dye gives a purple/brownish red color can be used as a food/pharmaceutical color.
Gamboge tree (Garcinia combogia Desv.- Clusiaceae)
Contains cambogin and camboginol, two isoprenylated benzophenones. The fruit rind contains (-) - hydroxycitric acid (about 30 The fruit rind is used as a spice and believed to help slimming.
Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana Linn.- Clusiaceae)
Bark, fruit hulls and dried latex yield xanthones, mangostin, b-mangostin, and g-mangostin (normangostin).
Kota, wood apple (Feronia limonia Swingle - Rutaceae) The rind of unripe fruit yields a yellow dye. The pulp is used in preparation of yellow dye in certain gesso work.
Mango (Mangifera indica Linn.- Anacardiaceae)
Mango bark contains a xanthone-6-glucoside, mangiferin, and 16-20% of tannins and yields a coloring matter which produces yellow shades.
Anthocyanins
Grapes (Vitis vinifera- Vitaceae)
Onion ( Allium cepa Linn. - Liliaceae) The dry outer scales of onion bulbs which are red in colour yields glycosides of 5-carboxypyranocynidin, cyanidin and quercetin. The dry scales are used to color red and or yellow
Aparajita (Clitoria ternatea Linn. - Fabaceae)
The color of the blue flower is due to glucosides of delphinidin, malvidin, cyanidin and kaempferol. The flowers yield a blue dye used for coloring cakes bright blue and or dyeing white cloth and matting in Malaysia.
Shoe flower (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn. - Malvaceae)
Flowers contain mucilage, anthocyanins based on malvidin and cyanidin and flavonoids such as quercetin and gossypetin. The crushed flowers yield a dark purplish dye used for coloring hair, eyebrows, foods, liquors and blackening shoes.
Black Nightshade (Solanum americanum Mill.- Solanaceae)
In Oman a purple dye is extracted from the fruits of this plant, which is used for dyeing clothes and skin.
Dhataki, Woodfordia (Woodfordia floribunda Salisb. - Lythraceae)
The flowers yield a red dye and are employed a food color.The twigs and leaves are also used in dyeing.
Flavonoids
Palas, Bengal kino tree (Butea frondosa Koenig. (Fabaceae)
The flowers yield a brilliant yellow dye containing chalcones and aurones such as butin, butrin, isobutrin etc. the color is not very stable.
Sappanwood (Caesalpinia sappan Linn. - Caesalpiniaceae)
The principal colouring matter in this dyestuff is another aryl chroman, brazilin. The wood contains tannins too. The pod cases contain about 40% tannin. The dye is used in the manufacture of red ink.
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Breyn. - Lauraceae)
The bark is found to contain a flavonol, kaempferol and phenolic acids besides tannins.
Bark extract yields a brown dye. The leaves and bark are used as dye auxiliaries.
Kamila dye tree (Mallotus philippensis Don.- Euphorbiaceae)
Red glandular pubescence covering the ripe capsules contains rottlerin (a complicated derivative of chalcone), and isorottlerin which form 11% of the powder. Kamala is also an excellent antioxidant useful in ghee, margarine and foods.
Indian/Malabar Kino (Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. - Fabaceae)
Heartwood which is an excellent medicine for diabetes yields liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin, C-glycosides like pterocarposide and pteroisoauroside. Bark and wood dyes are used for dyeing clothes. This can be used as a food or pharmaceutical dye also.
Tamarindus (Tamarindus indica Linn. - Caesalpiniaceae)
Leaves contain flavones like apigenin, and luteolin and glycoflavone yielding a reddish yellow dye .
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn.- Fabaceae)
Fenugreek is a popular spice and medicine of India. Seeds contain flavonoids such as quercetin and luteolin (free and as glycosides) and yield a very stable yellow dye suitable as a coloring material in foods and pharmaceuticals.
Quinones
Vavding (Embelia ribes Burm.f. - Myrsinaceae)
The fruits, the drug, contain a benzoquinone, embelin (2,5-diOH-3-undecyl-1,4- benzoquinone). Embelia extract is dark red in color and can be used in coloring foods
Ratanjoth, Kashmiri Gozuban (Alkanna. benthamii Johnston- Boraginaceae)
The plant contaiss two naphthoquinones, alkannan and alkannin. The flowering shoots are extensively used in giving a pleasing red color to foodstuffs, oils, fats and medicinal preparations. It is also used for dyeing silk and wool.
Alkanna (Alkanna tinctoria Tausch.- Boraginaceae)
The roots contain two closely related naphthaquinones alkannan and alkannin. Alkannan is 1, 2-naphthaquinone while alkannin (hydroxy alkannan-alkanna red) may occur esterified with angelic acid.This dye is used for colouring foodstuffs, medicines and in histological works.
Akhrot, Walnut (Juglans regia Linn. - Juglandaceae)
All parts of this fruit tree contain a naphthaquinone, juglone. Root bark contains cyclotrijuglone, bisjuglone and β-sitosterol. The green walnut hulls, shells, bark and leaves, containing juglone and related naphthaquinones, are used for dyeing and tanning. The bark is used for cleaning teeth and for chewing to redden the lips. Green walnut shells have been used (as an only extract or alcoholic extract with alum) as a hair dye.
Chitrak (Plumbago indica Linn.- Plumbaginaceae)
Root bark contain a napthaquinone, used for dyeing foods. Roots are highly valued for their curative action on leucoderma and other skin diseases. They are digestive stimulants, diuretic, germicidal, vesicant and abortifacient. Plumbago zeylanica Linn., a perennial herb with ovate leaves having an amplexicaul leaf base and white flowers, is used as a substitute of chitrak.
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius Linn. - Asteraceae)
The flowers yield two coloring matters, a water soluble yellow (carthamin) and an insoluble red (carthamone). The yellow color is worthless and the red color, though beautiful, fades quickly because it has no affinity to any known mordant. The flowers, dried in the shade, rubbed between the hands and kept in a basket filter and pure steam or acidulated water is poured over. This removes most of the yellow dye. When the water filtering down is clear, the florets are partially dried, pressed into cakes and dried. From these cakes the red dye is extracted using sodium carbonate solution. The dye can then be precipitated with dilute acids. The dye is weak and gives red, pink, rose, crimson or scarlet shades – used for cotton and silk.
Gozuban (Onosma echioides Linn.- Boraginaceae)
The root yields a red dye which is extracted in alkaline medium. With different mordants the bark gives shades of grey. Roots are used for coloring wool, hair, and wood. It is also used to color medicines.
The roots of O. emodi Wall (Maharanga emodi Wall) also are used for coloring wool and silk. This plant is more common in Eastern Himalayas. The dye obtained from the roots of O. hookeri C. B. Clarke (a native of Sikkimand Bhutan) is used for coloring medicinal preparations – and is an expectorant and purgative.
Ratanjot (Onosma hispidum Wall - Boraginaceae)
Roots contain a red coloring principle containing naphthaquinones alkannin and alkannin, similar to Alkanna tinctoria. The roots are used for dyeing wool.
Red sandalwood, Raktachandan (Pterocarpus santalinus Linn.- Fabaceae)
The wood is extremely hard and dark purple. Wood contains a quinone, santalin (santalic acid, 16%), desoxy santalin ( a napthaquinone), santal (isoflavone) and two aurone glycosides. The dye is extracted in water containing alum and safflower oil. It can also be extracted in acetone or alcohol. This is used for coloring sauces and pharmaceutical preparations.
Mangishta/Indian madder (Rubia cordifolia Linn.- Rubiaceae)
The roots contain a number of anthraquinones such as purpurin (trihydroxy anthraquinone)and munjishtin. It imparts scarlet, coffee-brown or mauve to cotton and is used to color medicines and oils.
Tannins
Cutch Tree, Catechu (Acacia catechu Willd. - Mimosaceae)
Catechu is a resin extracted by boiling the red heartwood in water. Katha (pale catechu) is prepared by keeping the concentrated extract for a few days when the catechin settles (crystallizes) at the bottom. These crystals collected are moulded to various shapes and is the katha. The mother liquor on concentration yields Cutch (dark catechu). Katha is almost pure catechin whereas cutch contains up to 60% tannins and 12-18% catchin. Kheersal is the crystalline or powdery deposits of catechin found naturally in old trees. This dye gives brown, yellow, grey and black color. The brown color is obtained by using catechu with iron sulphate and myrobalan. Black color is produced by mixing cutch with castor oil and turmeric.
Coral wood (Adenanthera pavonina Linn.- Mimosaceae)
The wood contains robinetin, chalcone, butein and dihydroxyricetin. Leaves yield octacosanol, dulcitol, b-sitosterol and stigmasterol. The wood yields a dye, which is used as a substitute for red sandalwood.
Areca nut (Areca catechu Linn. - Arecaceae)
The seeds contain tannins which varies from 14-26% and consists of gallotannic acid and catechins. The extract, prepared by boiling seeds in water, provides a rich brown dye range.
Indian gooseberry, Amalaki/Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (Euphorbiaceae)
Leaves and fruits yield a dye useful for giving a brown color to silk. Fruits are used for hair dyes.
Gamboge (Garcinia hanburyi Hook f.- Guttiferae)
Gamboge is a gum resin obtained as an exudate from G. hanburyi and related species; natives of Malaya. This dye which possesses a beautiful yellow colour contains flavonoids and related tannins, is used by artists.
Lodhra, Symplocos (Symplocos cochinchinensis Moore - Symplocaceae)
The bark is an acclaimed remedy for menstrual disorders, uterine problems and urinogenital diseases and gives a useful dye.
Chebulic myrobalan, Hirda/Haritaki (Terminalia chebula Retz.- Combretaceae)
The fruits contain 30-40% of tannins mostly as di-O-galloyl and tri-O-galloyl glucose. The fruit is extensively used as a dye mordant. Flowers on extraction with water yield a yellow dye and khaki color is produced with mordants. The powdered flower is used for producing a yellow dye and to top indigo dye materials to develop green color. It is also used to print yellow and green colors to leather.
Alkaloids
Barberry (Berberis aristata DC. Berberidaceae)
The root bark, as well as stem bark, yields (up to 4%) isoquinoline alkaloids, such as berberine which is yellow in color. The stems are sued in Tibet to stir boiling butter to impart a fresh golden color to ghee.
B. asiatica Roxb., common in Himalayas, also yields similar alkaloids (berberine amounts of 2% in root bark) and used in place of barberry. Related species such as B. chitria, B. coriaria, B. floribunda etc also are used as substitutes.
Pomegranate (Punica granatum Linn.- Punicaceae)
The fruit rind containing 26% tannins along with stem bark (tannins 10-25%), root bark (26%) and leaves (11%) are used to give yellowish brown to khaki shades.
Betacyanins
Beet root (Beta vulgaris Linn.- Chenopodiaceae)
The blood-red color of the beetroot is due to betalains, a group of indole derived pigments. Betacyanins are used to color foods and pharmaceutical products. Though the color is not very stable it is successfully used in meat substitutes, summer sausage, gelatin disserts and diary products. The root juice is used for intensifying the color of tomato products like tomato juice, puree and catsup. Betacyanin gives best color at pH 6.3-6.6 and turns yellow at basic pH.
Iresine (Iresine herbstii Hook. f.- Amaranthaceae)
This is a small, much branched perennial of 1m in height, with bright crimson or maroon colored leaves. The leaves are employed in Java for coloring agar-agar jelly.
Bloodberry (Rivina humilis Linn.- Phytolaccaceae)
Berries containing betacyanins are used as sources of textile dyes and food color.
Terpenoids
Carotenoids
The principal coloring matter is a sesterpene bixin which amounts to 70-80% of total pigments. Annatto is extensively used in dairy industry for coloring butter, ghee, cheese, margarines, ice cream, chocolate, meat and sausages. It is also used in nail-gloss, hair-oils, shoe polishes, soap, pharmaceuticals and leather. Annatto is employed to paint bodies of dancers for folk dances and as mosquito repellant. Annatto is abundantly used for colouring wool, paints and soaps.
Lalmirich, Red Chilli. (Capsicum annum Linn.- Solanaceae)
The color of red chillies is due to carotenoids such as capsanthin and capsorubin (main components). This is used to color foods and pharmaceuticals
Saffron (Crocus sativus Linn. - Iridaceae)
The color of saffron is due to a diterpene crocin, which is the gentiobiose ester of crocetin – a diterpene acid having a structure resembling carotenoids. Saffron is a coloring and flavouring agent. Saffron extract shows cytotoxic and antimutagenic activities and anti-tumour activities against ascites tumours in mice. It is also used for its mild hypotensive properties, as an emmanagogue, in amenorrhea dismenorhagia, hysteria and to prevent premature ejaculation Crocin is used to stabilize light sensitive drugs
Gardenia (Rubiaceae)
Gardenia grandiflora Lour. a Chinese tree, the fruit of which is employed in dyeing the yellow robes of the Mandarins, contain crocin. Gardenia campanulata fruits also are used to dye clothes. Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis (Cape jasmine) a native if China, containing a number of iridoids such as genipin, its glycosides, geniposide, acetyl geniposide, etc. is used as a food coloring and natural dye of long shelf life. A blue dye is produced by hydrolyzing geniposide and reacting the resultant genipin with a primary amine.
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.- Solanaceae)
The color of the tomato is due to b-carotene and lycopene along with minor components neolycopene, prolycopene, neo-b-carotene, phytofluene etc. These pigments are ideal for coloring foods and as a pharmaceutical dye. Lycopene is a an antioxidant well- sought after and has a curative and preventive action for prostrate problems including prostate cancer
Porphyrins
Chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll is a group of natural porphyrins present in all green plants. All of them are characterized by tetrapyrrole ring (porphin) containing magnesium. Though a number of chlorophylls exist in nature, higher plants contain chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b in the ratio 3:1. Both these compounds are extracted by various solvents and are used as a non-toxic colouring material for foods, soaps and as a deodorant.
In presence of acids, the magnesium present in the porphyrin ring is replaced by two hydrogen atoms. The resultant product pheophytin is olive green to olive brown in colour. The traces of acids produced at higher temperature also causes this reaction and this explains the colour changes of canned as well as frozen vegetables. The enzyme chlorophyllase liberates phytol and propionic acid from chlorophyll, the latter compound causes the removal of magnesium subsequently. The bleaching of chlorophyll in dehydrated foods when exposed to sunlight for a long period of time is entirely a photo-oxidation process.
Some of the algae like Spirulina can be added directly to food or medicine to impart green color.
Source
M. Daniel, (2012), Useful Herbs of the Planet Earth, Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur, Pages 710.
Mammen Daniel
