Stabilization of Natural Pigments in Ethanolic Solutions for Food Applications: The Case Study of Chlorella vulgaris

last updated: 2024-02-02
ProjectValorMar :: publications list
TitleStabilization of Natural Pigments in Ethanolic Solutions for Food Applications: The Case Study of Chlorella vulgaris
Publication TypePapers in Scientific Journals
Year of Publication2023
AuthorsFerreira A. S., Pereira L., Canfora F., Silva T. H., Coimbra M. A., and Nunes C.
Abstract

Chlorella vulgaris is a green microalga with a high chlorophyll content, representing a valuable source of green pigments for food applications. As the application of whole biomass can promote an unpleasant fish-like flavor, the use of chlorophyll extract can overcome this drawback. However, chlorophylls tend to easily degrade when out of the chloroplasts, decreasing their potential as a food ingredient. Thus, to study the suitable conditions for isolated chlorophylls preservation, in this work, the influence of temperature (4 to 60 ºC), light (dark or 24 h photoperiod), alkaline conditions (with or without aqueous NaOH addition), and modified atmosphere (air or argon atmosphere) on the stability of the color in ethanolic solutions obtained from C. vulgaris were studied. The loss of green color with temperature followed the first-order kinetics, with an activation energy of 74 kJ/mol. Below 28 ºC and dark conditions were suitable to preserve isolated chlorophylls. The addition of NaOH and an inert argon-rich atmosphere did not exhibit a statistically positive effect on color preservation. In the case study, cooked cold rice was colored to be used in sushi. The color remained stable for up to 3 days at 4 ºC. Therefore, this work showed that C. vulgaris chlorophyll could be preserved in ethanolic solutions at room or lower temperatures when protected from light, allowing them to obtain a suitable natural food ingredient to color foodstuffs.

JournalMolecules
Volume28
Issue1
Pagination408
Date Published2023-01-03
PublisherMDPI
ISSN1420-3049
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28010408
URLhttps://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/1/408
KeywordsChlorella vulgaris, chlorophyll, color stability, ethanolic extract, food ingredients, pigments
RightsopenAccess
Peer reviewedyes
Statuspublished

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