Novel Approaches for the Recovery of Natural Pigments with Potential Health Effects

Abstract

The current increased industrial food production has led to a significant rise in the amount of food waste generated. These food wastes, especially fruit and vegetable byproducts, are good sources of natural pigments, such as anthocyanins, betalains, carotenoids, and chlorophylls, with both coloring and health-related properties. Therefore, recovery of natural pigments from food wastes is important for both economic and environmental reasons. Conventional methods that are used to extract natural pigments from food wastes are time-consuming, expensive, and unsustainable. In addition, natural pigments are sensitive to high temperatures and prolonged processing times that are applied during conventional treatments. In this sense, the present review provides an elucidation of the latest research on the extraction of pigments from the agri-food industry and how their consumption may improve human health.

Ultrasounds and a Postharvest Photoperiod to Enhance the Synthesis of Sulforaphane and Antioxidants in Rocket Sprouts

“…Therefore, it is possible to conclude that as the main responsibility for the antioxidant activity of fruits and vegetables [ 2 , 34 ], the enhancement of the biosynthesis of phenolic acids and flavonoids by the use of LED lighting during the storage of rocket sprouts is going to suppose the improvement of the healthiness of these little plants, being more able to scavenge free radicals present in diets and avoiding the development of possible new diseases produced by oxidative stress to which the human body is subjected on a daily routine [ 2 , 3 ].…”

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Natural Pigments From Food Processing By-Products: A Review

“…In addition, betalains have been associated with several biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, antimicrobial activities, and free radical scavenging potential, among others. This was demonstrated through in vivo studies, which indicate that betalain supplementations could play a beneficial role in diseases such as hypertension, cancer and dyslipidemia ( 69 , 79 , 80 ).…”

“…Carotenoids are lipophilic pigments mainly produced by plants, algae, and some animals such as arthropods and salmonids, they are responsible for the characteristic yellowish, orange, and reddish colors. Several types of carotenoids have been identified and categorized into two main groups: xanthophylls (with oxygen in its chemical formula) and carotenes (without oxygen in their chemical formula), carotenogenesis of carotenes and xanthophylls is controlled by the transcript genes, which are mainly regulated by light and temperature ( 69 , 70 ). Lycopene (C 40 H 56 ) is considered the first colored carotenoid in the biosynthesis of many other natural carotenes and xanthophylls ( 71 ).…”

“…Lycopene (C 40 H 56 ) is considered the first colored carotenoid in the biosynthesis of many other natural carotenes and xanthophylls ( 71 ). From lycopene, α and β carotenes are synthesized, then while α-carotene is converted into lutein, β-carotene is converted into cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin, capsanthin, violaxanthin, and neoxanthin among other ( 69 – 71 ).…”

“…Betalains are water-soluble nitrogen-containing pigments present in most plants of the order Caryophyllales, which are synthesized from the amino acid tyrosine into two structural groups: the red-violet betacyanins and the yellow-orange betaxanthins. These pigments are composed of a nitrogenous core of betalamic acid, which can either condense with amines to form betaxanthins or with imino compounds to form betacyanins ( 69 , 78 , 79 ). The strength of these colorants is three times higher than anthocyanins ( 5 ).…”