Semisynthesis of Betaxanthins from Purified Betacyanin of Opuntia dillenii sp.: Color Stability and Antiradical Capacity

The availability of pure individual betalains in sufficient quantities which permit deeper understanding is still a challenge. This study investigates the high-yielding semisynthesis of betaxanthins using betalamic acid from a natural source (Opuntia dillenii), followed by condensation with ʟ-amino acids and further purification. Moreover, the color stability of the four synthesized individual betaxanthins, namely proline (ʟ-ProBX), alanine (ʟ-AlaBX), leucine (ʟ-LeuBX), and phenylalanine (ʟ-PheBX) betaxanthins, was investigated at different pHs. Their relative contribution to free radical scavenging was also scrutinized by TEAC and DPPH. ʟ-AlaBX and ʟ-LeuBx showed a significantly (p < 0.05) higher antioxidant activity, whereas ʟ-ProBX was the most resistant to the hydrolysis of betaxanthin and hence the least susceptible to color change. The color stability was strongly influenced by pH, with the color of ʟ-ProBX, ʟ-LeuBX, and ʟ-AlaBX at pH 6 being more stable, probably due to the easier hydrolysis under acid conditions. The semisynthesis and purification allowed us to have available remarkable quantities of pure individual betaxanthins of Opuntia dillenii for the first time, and to establish their color properties and antioxidant capacity. This study could be a step forward in the development of the best natural food colorant formulation, based on the betalain structure, which is of special interest in food technology.

Revalorization of Colombian purple corn Zea mays L. by-products using two-step column chromatography

Colombian purple corn Zea mays L. by-products have been chemically characterized. To achieve this, after Amberlite XAD-7 purification and Sephadex LH-20 fractionation, the accurate anthocyanin and flavonol profile using UHPL-DAD-ESI-MS, total monomeric anthocyanin (TMA), polyphenols using Folin-Ciocalteau reduction capacity (FCRC), and antioxidant activity (DPPH and TEAC) of each fraction were performed. Cob and leaves illustrated a more complete flavonoid profile and a higher content of anthocyanins and flavonols, strongly related to the highest reducing power and radical scavenging activity compared to grains. Furthermore, the most antioxidant fractions corresponded to the higher molecular weight compounds. The cob and leaves were enriched in cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3-O-malonyl-hexoside, and peonidin-3-O-glucoside, peonidin-3-O-(6''-malonyl-glucoside). The purification and fractionation allowed us to establish the chemical and antioxidant characterization, and the resulting revalorization, of purple corn by-products for the first time, and to have available pure fractions of Zea mays L. for a wide diversity of industries.