Betalain Pigments Research Articles

Studying the Influence of Salt Concentrations on Betalain and Selected Physical and Chemical Properties in the Lactic Acid Fermentation Process of Red Beetroot

This study emphasizes the significance of optimizing salt content during the fermentation of red beetroot to produce healthier and high-quality fermented products. It investigates the impact of different salt levels on fermentation, analyzing various parameters such as pH levels, dry matter content, total acidity, salt content, color changes, pigment content, and lactic acid bacteria count. This study identifies the most favorable salt concentration for bacterial growth during fermentation and storage as 2–3%. It was evaluated that salt levels fluctuated significantly during fermentation, with nearly 50% of the added salt absorbed by the beetroot tissues, mainly when lower salt concentrations were used. The fermentation process had a negative effect on the content of betalain pigments, as well as yellow pigments, including vulgaxanthin-I. It was also found that fermentation and storage affected the proportions of red pigments, with betacyanins proving to be more stable than betaxanthins, and that salt addition affected negatively pH and total acidity while causing an increase in yellow color. The pH was negatively correlated with the duration of the process, the amount of red pigment, and bacterial count. The results indicate that lower salt levels can lead to favorable physicochemical and microbiological parameters, allowing for the production of fermented red beetroot with reduced salt content without compromising quality.

Research Progress on Bioactive Substances of Beets and Their Functions

As a globally cultivated and economic crop, beets are particularly important in the cane sugar and feed industries. Beet pigments are among the most important natural pigments, while various chemical components in beets display beneficial biological functions. Phenolic substances and betalains, as the main bioactive compounds, determine the functional characteristics of beets. This review categorizes the basic types of beets by the chemical composition of bioactive substances in their leaves, stems, and roots and emphatically summarizes the research progress made on the functions of two major substances in different types of beets: phenolic compounds and betalain pigments. This study provides useful insights for the comprehensive and effective application of beets in the health food and pharmaceutical industries.

Degradation kinetics of betalains in red beetroot juices throughout fermentation process and storage

Contemporary customers have increasingly heightened demands regarding their dietary preferences, favoring readily available and healthful ready-to-consume food and beverage alternatives. In order to fulfill this demand, the beverage industry has been exploring innovative products. Red beetroot juice (RBJ) is easily consumed and offers a beneficial advantage due to its betalain content. Both the traditional/spontaneous method and the industrial method are viable options for producing RBJ. The aim of this study was to examine the stability of betalains, the primary bioactive component in RBJ, throughout the fermentation process and during storage. The RBJ samples contained betalain pigments, as indicated by the infrared spectra. No decrease in betalain content was observed in either RBJ juice fermented by two different methods. The total betalain content of the RBJ samples was 594.068 and 535.152 mg/L at the beginning of fermentation through the spontaneous method and the method with the addition of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 431 (Lc. paracasei), respectively, and 580.151 mg/L and 667.382 mg/L at the conclusion of fermentation, respectively. Mathematical models were employed to represent the degradation of betalains over time during storage. It was found that the sigmoidal model (R2 = 0.974) and other models (R2 = 0.957–0.969) demonstrated a greater potential to describe the degradation of betalains in RBJ samples produced by the spontaneous method compared to the first-order kinetics model (R2 = 0.932). The models used in the study were successful, with R2 values ranging between 0.927 and 0.932 in the RBJ samples produced with the addition of the probiotic Lc. paracasei for predicting betalain degradation.

Agrobacterium-mediated Cuscuta campestris transformation as a tool for understanding plant-plant interactions.

Cuscuta campestris, a stem parasitic plant, has served as a valuable model plant for the exploration of plant-plant interactions and molecular trafficking. However, a major barrier to C. campestris research is that a method to generate stable transgenic plants has not yet been developed. Here, we describe the development of a Cuscuta transformation protocol using various reporter genes (GFP, GUS, or RUBY) and morphogenic genes (CcWUS2 and CcGRF/GIF), leading to a robust protocol for Agrobacterium-mediated C. campestris transformation. The stably transformed and regenerated RUBY C. campestris plants produced haustoria, the signature organ of parasitic plants, and these were functional in forming host attachments. The locations of T-DNA integration in the parasite genome were confirmed through TAIL-PCR. Transformed C. campestris also produced flowers and viable transgenic seeds exhibiting betalain pigment, providing proof of germline transmission of the RUBY transgene. Furthermore, RUBY is not only a useful selectable marker for the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, but may also provide insight into the movement of molecules from C. campestris to the host during parasitism. Thus, the protocol for transformation of C. campestris reported here overcomes a major obstacle to Cuscuta research and opens new possibilities for studying parasitic plants and their interactions with hosts.

A simple and efficient method for betalain quantification in RUBY-expressing plant samples.

The RUBY reporter system has demonstrated great potential as a visible marker to monitor gene expression in both transiently and stably transformed plant tissues. Ectopic expression of the RUBY reporter leads to bright red pigmentation in plant tissues that do not naturally accumulate betalain. Unlike traditional visual markers such as β-glucuronidase (GUS), luciferase (LUC), and various fluorescent proteins, the RUBY reporter system does not require sample sacrifice or special equipment for visualizing the gene expression. However, a robust quantitative analysis method for betalain content has been lacking, limiting accurate comparative analyses. In this work, we present a simple and rapid protocol for quantitative evaluation of RUBY expression in transgenic plant tissues. Using this method, we demonstrate that differential RUBY expression can be quantified in transiently transformed leaf tissues, such as agroinfiltrated Nicotiana benthamiana leaves, and in stable transgenic maize tissues, including seeds, leaves, and roots. We found that grinding fresh tissues with a hand grinder and plastic pestle, without the use of liquid nitrogen, is an effective method for rapid betalain extraction. Betalain contents estimated by spectrophotometric and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analyses were highly consistent, validating that our rapid betalain extraction and quantification method is suitable for comparative analysis. In addition, betalain content was strongly correlated with RUBY expression level in agroinfiltrated N. benthamiana leaves, suggesting that our method can be useful for monitoring transient transformation efficiency in plants. Using our rapid protocol, we quantified varying levels of betalain pigment in N. benthamiana leaves, ranging from 110 to 1066 mg/kg of tissue, and in maize samples, ranging from 15.3 to 1028.7 mg/kg of tissue. This method is expected to streamline comparative studies in plants, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of various promoters, enhancers, or other regulatory elements used in transgenic constructs.

Mapping of specialized metabolite terms onto a plant phylogeny using text mining and large language models.

Plants produce a staggering array of chemicals that are the basis for organismal function and important human nutrients and medicines. However, it is poorly defined how these compounds evolved and are distributed across the plant kingdom, hindering a systematic view and understanding of plant chemical diversity. Recent advances in plant genome/transcriptome sequencing have provided a well-defined molecular phylogeny of plants, on which the presence of diverse natural products can be mapped to systematically determine their phylogenetic distribution. Here, we built a proof-of-concept workflow where previously reported diverse tyrosine-derived plant natural products were mapped onto the plant tree of life. Plant chemical-species associations were mined from literature, filtered, evaluated through manual inspection of over 2500 scientific articles, and mapped onto the plant phylogeny. The resulting "phylochemical" map confirmed several highly lineage-specific compound class distributions, such as betalain pigments and Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. The map also highlighted several lineages enriched in dopamine-derived compounds, including the orders Caryophyllales, Liliales, and Fabales. Additionally, the application of large language models, using our manually curated data as a ground truth set, showed that post-mining processing can largely be automated with a low false-positive rate, critical for generating a reliable phylochemical map. Although a high false-negative rate remains a challenge, our study demonstrates that combining text mining with language model-based processing can generate broader phylochemical maps, which will serve as a valuable community resource to uncover key evolutionary events that underlie plant chemical diversity and enable system-level views of nature's millions of years of chemical experimentation.

Flower color modification in Torenia fournieri by genetic engineering of betacyanin pigments

BackgroundBetalains are reddish and yellow pigments that accumulate in a few plant species of the order Caryophyllales. These pigments have antioxidant and medicinal properties and can be used as functional foods. They also enhance resistance to stress or disease in crops. Several plant species belonging to other orders have been genetically engineered to express betalain pigments. Betalains can also be used for flower color modification in ornamental plants, as they confer vivid colors, like red and yellow. To date, betalain engineering to modify the color of Torenia fournieri—or wishbone flower—a popular ornamental plant, has not been attempted.ResultsWe report the production of purple-reddish-flowered torenia plants from the purple torenia cultivar “Crown Violet.” Three betalain-biosynthetic genes encoding CYP76AD1, dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) 4,5-dioxygenase (DOD), and cyclo-DOPA 5-O-glucosyltransferase (5GT) were constitutively ectopically expressed under the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter, and their expression was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. The color traits, measured by spectrophotometric colorimeter and spectral absorbance of fresh petal extracts, revealed a successful flower color modification from purple to reddish. Red pigmentation was also observed in whole plants. LC-DAD-MS and HPLC analyses confirmed that the additional accumulated pigments were betacyanins—mainly betanin (betanidin 5-O-glucoside) and, to a lesser extent, isobetanin (isobetanidin 5-O-glucoside). The five endogenous anthocyanins in torenia flower petals were also detected.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the possibility of foreign betacyanin accumulation in addition to native pigments in torenia, a popular garden bedding plant. To our knowledge, this is the first report presenting engineered expression of betalain pigments in the family Linderniaceae. Genetic engineering of betalains would be valuable in increasing the flower color variation in future breeding programs for torenia.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction and encapsulation of betalain from prickly pear: Process optimization, in-vitro digestive stability, and development of functional gummies

The study aimed to extract and encapsulate betalain pigment from prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) using ultrasound-assisted extraction and eco-friendly glycerol. Subsequent analysis encompassed assessing its thermal stability, shelf-life, bio-accessibility, and biological properties. The process optimization employed Response Surface Methodology (RSM), focusing on glycerol concentration (20–50 %), sample to solvent ratio (1:10–1:20), temperature (30–60 °C), and time (10–30 min). Optimal conditions were determined as 23.15 % glycerol, 1:10 sample to solvent ratio, 10.43 min treatment time, and 31.15 °C temperature. Under these conditions, betalain content reached 858.28 mg/L with a 93.76 % encapsulation efficiency. Thermal stability tests (80–180 °C; 30 & 60 min) showed degradation of betalain with higher temperatures and longer durations, affecting the visual aspect (ΔE) of the pigment. Encapsulated betalain exhibited favorable shelf stability, with optimal storage life of 404.27 days at 4 °C in amber conditions, compared to 271.99 days at 4 °C without amber, 141.92 days at 25 °C without amber, and 134.22 days at 25 °C with amber. Bio-accessibility of encapsulated betalain was significantly higher (2.05 ± 0.03 %) than conventionally extracted pigment (1.03 ± 0.09 %). The encapsulated pigment displayed strong anti-inflammatory properties in dosages of 2–20 µL, with no cytotoxic effects. Additionally, incorporation into gummies was successful and visually approved by sensory panellists. Glycerol proved to be a green encapsulating agent for betalain, offering high shelf life and bio-accessibility, making it suitable for food industry applications. The encapsulated pigment demonstrated robust thermal stability and shelf life, making it suitable for food industry applications. This study highlights glycerol’s potential as a sustainable alternative for natural pigment extraction.

Nutraceutical Potential of Djulis (Chenopodium formosanum) Hull: Phytochemicals, Antioxidant Activity, and Liver Protection.

Djulis (Chenopodium formosanum), a traditional Taiwanese crop enriched with phenolic compounds and betalain pigments, is associated with various health benefits, including antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects. This study analysed the phytochemical content and antioxidant capacity of extracts from both the hull and kernel of Djulis. The hull extract, which contained higher levels of flavonoids and exhibited superior antioxidant activity compared to the kernel extract, was selected for further in vivo studies. These experiments showed that oral administration of the Djulis hull crude extract significantly mitigated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute liver injury (ALI) in mice by increasing the activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reducing plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and enhancing liver levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4). Additionally, the extract demonstrated potential in inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB pathway, a critical signalling pathway in inflammation and apoptosis, offering insights into its protective mechanisms. These findings underscore Djulis hull's potential as a functional food ingredient for ALI prevention and propose a valuable application for agricultural by-products.

Allelic differences in the key genes of betalain biosynthesis in table beet accessions with contrasting root color from the VIR collection

Background. Table beet (Beta vulgaris L.) contains a great amount of naturally red-colored betanins. A number of enterprises are forced to import foreign dyes because the reserves of domestic plant raw materials are insufficient. With this in view, the development of cultivars with high betalain pigment content is now required.Materials and methods. Allelic differences were screened in the key genes of the betalain biosynthesis pathway among table beet accessions with various root color from the VIR collection using the Sanger DNA sequencing method.Results and discussion. For the first time we identified a nonsense mutation in the CYP76AD1 gene in cv. ‘Serdolik’ with yellow flesh; it led to the truncation of the functional P450 domain. We suggested that the detected polymorphism correlated with phenotypic switching because the well-known role of CYP76AD1 was essential for the red betalain accumulation. Moreover, a number of missense mutations in cv. ‘Avalanche’ in the first exon of the BvDODA1 gene were found. These mutations were probably associated with the expression of the uncolored phenotype. An in silico analysis revealed highly homologous copies of CYP76AD5, located tandemly on chromosome 9. Attention should be paid to these copies, together with the CYP76AD6 gene, as they seem the most preferable targets for a knockout to increase the red pigment content.Conclusion. It is possible to identify the best table beet accessions for further genome editing among a previously selected high-betanin group. In addition, this study revealed the allelic differences in the key genes of the betalain biosynthesis pathway. These results will be useful for the development of DNA molecular markers to facilitate the selection of table beet forms with required properties.

Chosen Biochemical and Physical Properties of Beetroot Treated with Ultrasound and Dried with Infrared–Hot Air Method

Beetroots are sources of bioactive compounds and valued pigments such as betalains. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of ultrasound pretreatment on the beetroot infrared–hot air drying process and the functional properties of the obtained product. In this study, there were two used frequencies—21 and 35 kHz—and three different periods of time—10, 20, and 30 min. Since beetroots are usually subjected to thermal treatment, another aim was to examine the influence of blanching and soaking on the beetroot tissue properties in order to compare traditional and ultrasound-treated methods. As a result of this study, it was found that ultrasound pretreatment changed the dry matter content, water activity, thickness of the tissue, total color difference, and contents of betanin pigments in the beetroot. It was revealed that the drying process is shorter after ultrasound pretreatment using a 21 kHz frequency. Drying tissue exposed to ultrasounds showed a significant increase in the L* parameter; however, the decrease in the a* parameter was caused by a reduced content of betalain pigments. Taking into consideration parameters important from a technological point of view, it was found that the best condition for beetroot pretreatment is 20 min treatment, regardless of the frequency used.

Impact of different drying treatments on the biochemical and antioxidant activity properties of Egyptian red beetroot

This paper aims to provide an overview of the main findings and conclusions of the research on freshly sliced Egyptian red beetroot (Beta vulgaris). Beetroot belongs to the botanical family of Chenopodiaceae and encompasses various variations with bulb hues that span the spectrum from yellow to crimson. It is known that the ethanolic extract from beet contains many health-beneficial and bioactive chemicals, such as alkaloids, carotenoids, phenols, tannins, and flavonoids; it also contains vitamins C, B3, B6, and B9. Hence, the beetroot extract exhibits both antioxidant and nutritional properties. The study was conducted to investigate the effects of two different drying processes, oven-drying (OD) and freeze-drying (FD), on the physicochemical qualities of betalain pigments and antioxidants. Overall, freeze-dried (FD) samples demonstrated superior retention of beetroots proximate composition when compared to those dried in the oven. This was observed in terms of minerals and antioxidants, with freeze-drying resulting in higher levels of these components compared to oven drying. On the other hand, reductions in some phenolic compounds were found in the samples treated with the freeze-drying method when compared with the oven-drying method. It was proven that red beets have a lot of phenolic compounds, including kaempferol, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, gallic acid, catechin acid, rutin, hesperidin, naringin, quercetin, and ferulic acid.

PH-dependent stability of major betalains in the encapsulated beetroot extracts (Beta vulgaris L.).

Betalain is a water-soluble pigment contained in Caryophyllales plants. It not only holds potential as a natural food colorant but also offers various health benefits, acting as an antioxidant. This study focused on analyzing the pH-dependent stability of encapsulated betalain pigments extracted from red beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) using methods such as absorption spectroscopy, HPLC, and LC-MS. The major pigments identified were vulgaxanthin I, betanin, isobetanin, and neobetanin, alongside minor components, including three betaxanthin species and a degradation product known as betalamic acid. Spectrophotometric analyses revealed that above pH 8, the betalain peak at 435nm decreased and red-shifted to a peak at 549nm, a shift that could be reversed through neutral pH treatment. At pH 11, a new broad peak appeared at 410nm and was identified as betalamic acid. To assess the pH-dependency of each betalain, the targeted betalains were separated and quantified through HPLC after incubation across a wide pH range of 2-11 and during storage. After 3 days of storage in highly alkaline conditions (pH 10-11), major betalains, with the exception of neobetanin, underwent significant degradation. Conversely, these pigments displayed relative stability in acidic conditions. In contrast, neobetanin showed vulnerability to acidic conditions but exhibited tolerance to alkaline pH levels of 10-11. The degradation product, betalamic acid, demonstrated a similar susceptibility to alkaline pH as betanins. In conclusion, the significant stability decrease under highly alkaline conditions results not only from the hydrolytic reaction of betalains but also from the degradation of betalamic acid itself. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Encapsulation methods are used to enhance the stability of betalains against temperature variations; however, the effects of pH, especially when considering individual betalain species, are not well understood. Despite betalains exhibiting similar features and being suitable for a wide pH range from acid to alkaline conditions, they are significantly affected by alkaline pH levels exceeding 10, as well as by storage duration. This study demonstrated the application of encapsulation to pH-dependent stability, and the findings offer valuable insights and a fresh perspective on betalains as red biocolorants, extending their potential application to a wide range of pH-controlled food products.

Debottlenecking the L-DOPA 4,5-dioxygenase step with enhanced tyrosine supply boosts betalain production in Nicotiana benthamiana.

Synthetic biology provides emerging tools to produce valuable compounds in plant hosts as sustainable chemical production platforms. However, little is known about how supply and utilization of precursors is coordinated at the interface of plant primary and specialized metabolism, limiting our ability to efficiently produce high levels of target specialized metabolites in plants. L-Tyrosine is an aromatic amino acid precursor of diverse plant natural products including betalain pigments, which are used as the major natural food red colorants and more recently a visual marker for plant transformation. Here, we studied the impact of enhanced L-tyrosine supply on the production of betalain pigments by expressing arogenate dehydrogenase (TyrA) from table beet (Beta vulgaris, BvTyrAα), which has relaxed feedback inhibition by L-tyrosine. Unexpectedly, betalain levels were reduced when BvTyrAα was coexpressed with the betalain pathway genes in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves; L-tyrosine and 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (L-DOPA) levels were drastically elevated but not efficiently converted to betalains. An additional expression of L-DOPA 4,5-dioxygenase (DODA), but not CYP76AD1 or cyclo-DOPA 5-O-glucosyltransferase, together with BvTyrAα and the betalain pathway, drastically enhanced betalain production, indicating that DODA is a major rate-limiting step of betalain biosynthesis in this system. Learning from this initial test and further debottlenecking the DODA step maximized betalain yield to an equivalent or higher level than that in table beet. Our data suggest that balancing between enhanced supply ("push") and effective utilization ("pull") of precursor by alleviating a bottleneck step is critical in successful plant synthetic biology to produce high levels of target compounds.

Evaluating the Bioactive Compounds of Beetroot and Their Pharmacological Activities in Promoting Health

Purpose: Lifestyle modification and sedentary life have led to multiple comorbidities which necessitate exploitation of underutilized novel ingredients in daily life. This comprehensive review aimed at providing valuable insight into the diverse pharmacological activities of beetroot bioactive compounds and their health enhancing properties. Furthermore, this review explored emerging research by scientific community for utilization of beetroot in the development of novel functional food products. 
 Materials and Methods: The scientific studies focusing on the biological activity and therapeutic potential of beetroot for health parameters were included in this study. Database search was made using google scholar, PubMed and research gate which generated a total of 200 papers. Out of which, only 63 met the inclusion criteria of this study. Inclusion criteria included literature focusing on beetroot’s bioavailability, plant pigments, bioactive compounds, health benefits, as well as studies describing food applications. This review includes studies between 2014 and 2023.
 Findings: The main findings suggested that a prominent bioactive compound and natural betalain pigment in beetroot, exhibits potential anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic and anti-depressive properties. The anti-oxidant activity of betalain is effective against oxidative stress and play a role in preventing and mitigating chronic diseases. Bioactive components including, nitrate content, betanin and betacyanin, potentially modulate blood pressure and promote cardiovascular health. Furthermore, beetroot derived polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamins and minerals contribute to bone health, immune function and overall well-being. Food product development based studies demonstrate an overall improvement in the nutritional and sensory profile. 
 Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Further research on bioactive components of multiple varieties of beetroot is recommended to reassess the underlying mechanisms and optimal dosage for unlocking their potential for medicinal, nutraceuticals and dietary interventions. More research is needed by food industrialists and scientists to explore the potential of beetroot pigments as non-synthetic food additives particularly color enhancer in various food formulations.

The adsorption of dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) pigments on chitin for food colorants

AbstractBACKGROUNDGrowing concern over the potential adverse health effects of synthetic colorants has led to a rising utilization of plant‐derived pigments within the food industry. Purple betacyanins from red dragon fruits (Hylocereus polyrhizus) have been subjected to an environmentally sustainable purification process for natural colorants.RESULTSThe violet‐hued pigments were absorbed onto preconditioned chitin material, a biodegraded polymer derived from shrimp shells. Liquid chromatographic–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometric analysis was employed to analyze the betalain pigment composition in the raw fruit extract, making comparisons between the adsorbed supernatant and desorbed solutions. Fourier transform infrared analysis, optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were conducted on the resin pre‐ and post‐adsorption stages, revealing distinctive infrared bands (RNHR, CO, CO, OH) indicative of betacyanin functional groups in the pigmented materials. The uniform adsorption of the colorant onto the adsorbents causes the intense purple color of the resin, with a maximum removal efficiency of 0.29 mg g−1. Adsorption data were subjected to various kinetic models, with the pseudo‐second‐order model demonstrating the optimal fit to the kinetic data (R2 = 0.97), while the Freundlich model proved most suitable for describing the sorption isotherm (R2 = 0.98). The adsorption energy, as determined by the Dubinin–Radushkevich equation, was 0.23 kJ mol−1, implying a physical adsorption mechanism on a heterogeneous surface.CONCLUSIONBetacyanins derived from red dragon fruits could be recovered for food colorants through chitin adsorption. This recovery mechanism is attributed to electrostatic interactions among the functional groups, including hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, and hydrogen bonds. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Immobilization of natural betalain pigments in inorganic hosts

In search of new food-grade pH sensitive formulations, red beet extract rich in betacyanin was included in different inorganic matrices based on silica and aluminosilicate to improve the stability of the dye. By the direct method of encapsulation of the pigments in silica support, stabilizing agents such as inclusion complex forming ?-cyclodextrin and ascorbic acid were added. The post loading system assumes the synthesis of porous silica and aluminosilicate powders and the adsorption of the beet extract by these supports. The unloaded carriers were structurally and texturally characterized (X-ray diffraction, FTIR, N2-physisorption). The presence of betanin, approved as a red food colorant, was evidenced by UV?Vis spectroscopy in all the hosts. Color properties were investigated as well as the pH generated color variations of the powders exposed to ammonia in the head-space of a sealed vessel. The obtained results could widen the field of applications of beet extract, the prepared ecological formulations could provide added value to edible products packaging.

Potentials of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) peel extract for quality enhancement of refrigerated beef meat

Given the significant quantity of betalain pigments, beetroot represents a potential source of natural colorants that can be employed in the food industry. The present investigation explored the impact of ethanolic beetroot peel (EBP) extract in beef meat preservation. EBP displayed a 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect with an IC50 value of 0.96 mg/mL. The anti-S. aureus, anti-L. monocytogenes, anti-E. coli, and anti-Salmonella enterica activity was assessed, and the minimum inhibitory concentration was ≤1.5 mg/mL. EBP extracts at three concentrations of 0.075%, 0.15%, and 0.3%, and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) concentration of 0.01%, employed at its recommended limit, were incorporated in refrigerated raw minced beef meat. The impact of these treatments on chemical stability, instrumental color, microbiological and sensory attributes of meat was monitored for 14 days at 4°C. At different levels, EBP extract led to a decrease in lipid/protein oxidation parameters and delayed microbial load throughout storage, with improved instrumental color and sensory traits. Interestingly, EBP extract at 0.3% has the strongest preservative effect until the end of storage. Using principal component analysis, effective discrimination was elucidated by linking sensory traits with chemical oxidation behavior, microbial alterations, and instrumental color. This investigation proved that EBP could be an encouraging natural additive in the meat industry.

Multiple mechanisms explain loss of anthocyanins from betalain-pigmented Caryophyllales, including repeated wholesale loss of a key anthocyanidin synthesis enzyme.

In this study, we investigate the genetic mechanisms responsible for the loss of anthocyanins in betalain-pigmented Caryophyllales, considering our hypothesis of multiple transitions to betalain pigmentation. Utilizing transcriptomic and genomic datasets across 357 species and 31 families, we scrutinize 18 flavonoid pathway genes and six regulatory genes spanning four transitions to betalain pigmentation. We examined evidence for hypotheses of wholesale gene loss, modified gene function, altered gene expression, and degeneration of the MBW (MYB-bHLH-WD40) trasnscription factor complex, within betalain-pigmented lineages. Our analyses reveal that most flavonoid synthesis genes remain conserved in betalain-pigmented lineages, with the notable exception of TT19 orthologs, essential for the final step in anthocyanidin synthesis, which appear to have been repeatedly and entirely lost. Additional late-stage flavonoid pathway genes upstream of TT19 also manifest strikingly reduced expression in betalain-pigmented species. Additionally, we find repeated loss and alteration in the MBW transcription complex essential for canonical anthocyanin synthesis. Consequently, the loss and exclusion of anthocyanins in betalain-pigmented species appear to be orchestrated through several mechanisms: loss of a key enzyme, downregulation of synthesis genes, and degeneration of regulatory complexes. These changes have occurred iteratively in Caryophyllales, often coinciding with evolutionary transitions to betalain pigmentation.

Multipronged Approach to Profiling Metabolites in Beta vulgaris L. Dried Pulp Extracts Using Chromatography, NMR and Other Spectroscopy Methods.

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) is known for being a rich source of phytochemicals, minerals and vitamins. This study aims to show how the combination of extraction/chromatography/mass spectrometry and NMR offers an efficient way to profile metabolites in the extracts of beetroot. Such combination may lead to the identification of more nutritional or medicinal compounds in natural products, and it is essential for our ongoing investigation to study the selective adsorption/desorption of these metabolites' on/off nanoparticles. The aqueous and organic extracts underwent analyses using UV-vis spectroscopy; GC-MS; LC-MS; 1H, 13C, 31P, TOCSY, HSQC, and selective TOCSY NMR experiments. Polar Extract: The two forms of betalain pigment were identified by UV-vis and LC MS. Fourteen amino acids, sucrose, and other compounds, among which is riboflavin, were identified by LC-MS. Two-dimensional TOCSY showed the spin coupling correlations corresponding to some of these compounds. The HSQC spectrum showed 1H/13C spin correlation in sucrose, confirming its high abundance in beetroot. Organic Extract: GC-MS data enabled the identification of several compounds including six fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) with higher than, on average, 90% similarity score. Selective TOCSY NMR data showed the spin coupling pattern corresponding to oleic, linoleic, and linolenic fatty acids. 31P NMR spectra indicate that phospholipids exist in both the organic and aqueous phase.