Estimation of Betalains in Beetroot Extract Using UV–Visible Spectrophotometry

The food and beverage industry is constantly seeking ingredients that satisfy two core demands: natural, vibrant colour and quantifiable health benefits. Our focus lies on betalains, the powerful, water-soluble, nitrogen-containing pigments responsible for the vivid red and yellow coloration naturally found in beetroot (Beta vulgaris).
Betalains offer a unique solution, serving not just as attractive natural colorants but also as potent bioactive compounds that support human health.

The Chemical Beauty of Betalains

Betalains are vacuolar pigments comprised of two main classes:

• Betacyanins: Responsible for the striking red to red-violet hues.
• Betaxanthins: Which provide vibrant yellow-orange coloration.

These pigments are structurally complex, formed as immonium conjugates of betalamic acid linked to amino compounds or cyclo-Dopa. Examples include betanin (from red beet) and indicaxanthin (from cactus pear).
It is betalamic acid, the core structure, that contributes significantly to the ingredient’s biological activity due to its conjugated imine and carboxyl groups. These structural features enable crucial functions such as radical scavenging and metal chelation.

Beyond the Hue—The Functional Edge

When formulating functional foods, nutraceuticals, or health-conscious products, the benefits of betalains extend far beyond aesthetics. Research reports that betalains and betalamic acid offer a powerful range of health properties:

• Antioxidant Activity: They neutralize free radicals, helping to prevent oxidative stress.
• Anti-inflammatory Effects: They actively modulate inflammatory mediators.
• Cardiovascular Benefits: They improve vascular health by working to reduce lipid oxidation.
• Hepatoprotective Properties: They support essential liver detoxification processes.
• Neuroprotective Effects: They protect neurons from oxidative damage.
• Anti-cancer Potential: They show promise in reducing oxidative DNA damage and inhibiting tumor growth.

Guaranteeing Stability: Our Extraction Commitment

To successfully incorporate natural pigments into food matrices, stability is paramount. Betalains are known to be thermolabile (heat-sensitive) and degrade significantly at temperatures above approximately 40 °C, leading to a loss of colour intensity. Heat accelerates their breakdown into betalamic acid and other degradation products.

Our extraction methodology is specifically designed to maximize stability and quality:

1. Cold Extraction: We utilize cold conditions (room temperature or below, usually 4–25 °C) to prevent thermal degradation of these sensitive pigments.
2. Mildly Acidic Conditions: Extraction is performed under mildly acidic conditions (pH ∼3–4) using agents like citric acid. Betalains are far more stable at mildly acidic pH than in neutral or alkaline environments.
3. Oxidation Prevention: Citric acid serves a dual purpose: it acts as a weak acidifying agent and a chelating agent. It binds metal ions such as Fe²⁺ and Cu²⁺, which typically catalyse the breakdown and oxidation of betalains.

Precision Ingredients: Demonstrating Lab Capability Through Quantification

For industrial-scale application, reproducibility and precise concentration knowledge are non-negotiable. We provide reliable quantification and standardization using UV–Visible Spectrophotometry. This analytical rigor ensures that every batch meets specific ingredient specifications.

Our lab capability utilizes this method because it is simple, cost-effective, and reliable for evaluating the pigment content of beetroot extracts.

How We Quantify Quality:

• Characteristic Absorption Maxima: We quantify the two pigment groups based on their specific light absorption: betacyanins at 538 nm and betaxanthins at 480 nm.
• Standardized Calculation: Pigment concentration is converted from absorbance using the Beer–Lambert’s law and published molar extinction coefficients. This ensures reproducible quantification even when pure standards are unavailable.
• Quality Control: We apply specific corrections, including correcting for turbidity (measured at 600 nm), ensuring accurate readings even in complex extracts.
The results are clearly reported as mg pigment equivalents per liter of extract and normalized to mg per gram of sample, providing the detailed data necessary for consistent formulation.

Conclusion

Betalains offer the food and nutraceutical industry a powerful competitive advantage: the combination of vivid natural colour and clinically researched bioactive functionality. By leveraging precise, cold, and stabilized extraction techniques alongside rigorous UV–Visible Spectrophotometry analysis, we ensure the delivery of high-quality, quantified betalain extracts.
The beauty of beetroot truly goes far beyond its colour—it is a foundation for future clean label, functional product development.

Testimonial

Mitra S.K. have added value to our business process by effective inspection, strict quality control and timely response. It is a pleasant experience to work with “Team Mitra S.K.”. We hope the same service level will continue in the future too....

Sirsendu Mukherjee

Chief Operation, FAMD, Tata Steel Limited..

Mitra SK Inspection Gulf LLC has been appointed by us and the services provided by them has been up to the mark and as per our expectations....

Ajay Mathur

Sr. General Manager,, Emirates Trading Agency L.L.C..

Mitra S. K. Private Limited is skilled in analysis and laboratory working. They understand operating requirements. They bring a winning combination of experience and commitment to excellence. During our rigorous selection process, Mitra S. K. showed us their flexibility and significant capabilities in testing and supervision field. They have deep understanding of the testing, strong customer care capabilities and their global delivery footprints....

Amar Singh Gohil

Mines Manager, Hindustan Zinc Limited, a Vedanta Company.

The Inspection services provided by Mitra S. K. Inspection Gulf has been prompt and accurate and has been in the line with our expectations....

Naser Bustami

General Manager, Stevin Rock L.L.C..

We would like to express our high appreciation of the business association our company had with Mitra S. K. as a testing and inspection house for their quality of service, good documentation and reporting during the job ....

R. Jeyakumar

Executive Vice President (Works),, DCW Limited.

We would like to express our high appreciation for PT Mitra S.K. Analisa Testama as a professional and reliable Testing and Inspection house for their quality services rendered which currently differentiates them from their competitors. they we selected by us due to high quality of services, accurate results, fast response, full support to give documentation and reporting of detail condition during the job....

Tulus Situmeang

AVP – Coal Quality & Sales Compliance Head,, PT Indo Tambangraya Megah Tbk (BANPU).

Their job was excellent and showed Mitra S.K. differential from others....

Geraldo Pimenta

Laboratory Head, MMX.

Mount Gibson engaged Mitra S.K. Private Limited (Mitra S.K.) in mid-2013 to observe and inspect the procedures for unloading of iron ore from vessels in Chinese ports, and the sampling of the ore. Mitra S.K. personnel have since that time overseen numerous shipment movements and cargo discharges, and provided reports thereon. We have found the service offered by Mitra S.K. to be very reliable and professional, with reports being timely and informative.....

Konstantin Gertsen

Shipping Administrator, Mount Gibson Iron Limited.

We’ve been pleased with the improvement we have seen in CIQ results, and Mitra S.K’s reports have certainly helped us to resolve any disputes with our customers in a more timely manner….....

Brian Mcdonald

Senior Director – Asia Pacific Iron Ore Sales,, Cliffs Natural Resources Pty Ltd..

We approached Mitra SK for their support in resolving an issue related to presence of wax in imported apples. Mitra SK provided an effective solution through their R& D work to differentiate between permitted & non permitted apple wax. The dedication and follow -up were highly appreciable. We highly recommend Mitra SK for future projects . ....

Mittu Mathew

Member, Compass Group (India) Pvt. Ltd.

Write to Us

LATEST blog