Highlights
- •Betalain is a natural colorant used in the food industry.
- •Red beetroot, amaranth, prickly pear and red pitahaya contain betalains.
- •Betalains possess various pharmacological properties.
- •Betalains-rich foods have great potential as functional foods.
Abstract
Betalains
are plant derived natural pigments that are presently gaining
popularity for use as natural colorants in the food industry. The
growing interest of consumers in the aesthetic, nutritional and safety
aspects of food has increased the demand for natural pigments such as
betalains to be used as alternative colorants in food products. Although
betalains from red beetroot are one of the most widely used food
colorant, betalains are not as well studied as compared to other natural
pigments such as anthocyanins, carotenoids or chlorophylls. This paper
reviews the pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant,
anti-cancer, anti-lipidemic and antimicrobial activity of betalains
derived from sources such as red beetroot, amaranth, prickly pear and
red pitahaya, for potential application as functional foods.
Keywords
- Betalains;
- Red beetroot;
- Amaranth;
- Prickly pear;
- Red pitahaya
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