Recent advances in betalain research

Pigment production and growth of Alternanthera plants cultured in vitro in the presence of tyrosine

“…The betacyanins may also be chemically classified into four types: betanin, amaranthine, gonferine and bougainvillein (Volp et al 2009). Several authors have studied the bioactivities of these pigments, including their antiviral and antibiotic effects (Strack et al 2003). Their antioxidant properties have been shown in a wide range of tests (Kanner et al 2001;Gentile et al 2004;Tesoriere et al 2008).…”

Characterization and Functional Identification of a Novel Plant 4,5-Extradiol Dioxygenase Involved in Betalain Pigment Biosynthesis in Portulaca grandiflora

“…Homologs of DODA are present not only in betalain-producing plants but also, albeit with some changes near the catalytic site, in other angiosperms and in the bryophyte Physcomitrella patens. These homologs are part of a novel conserved plant gene family probably involved in aromatic compound metabolism.Betalains are vacuolar pigments that entirely replace anthocyanins in most plants of the order Caryophyllales, with the exception of Caryophyllaceae and Molluginaceae (for review, see Strack et al, 2003). Betalains are also present in some basidiomycete fungi belonging to the Amanita and Hygrocybe genera.…”

“…Betalains are vacuolar pigments that entirely replace anthocyanins in most plants of the order Caryophyllales, with the exception of Caryophyllaceae and Molluginaceae (for review, see Strack et al, 2003). Betalains are also present in some basidiomycete fungi belonging to the Amanita and Hygrocybe genera.…”

Extensive profiling of three varieties of Opuntia spp. fruit for innovative food ingredients

“…Prickly pears shows a wide range of colour due to the presence of betalains, this molecules are water-soluble, nitrogen-containing pigments present in a limited number of families of the plant order Caryophyllales (Strack, Vogt, & Schliemann, 2003). There are two types of betalains, red/violet betacyanins and yellow/orange betaxanthins (Esquivel, 2016), creating an interesting palette of natural colouring agents.…”

“…There are two types of betalains, red/violet betacyanins and yellow/orange betaxanthins (Esquivel, 2016), creating an interesting palette of natural colouring agents. There is growing interest in betalains, partially due to their good stability between the pH values of 3 and 7 (Herbach, Stintzing, & Carle, 2006), and their ability to protect against oxidative stress (Azeredo, 2009;Strack et al, 2003). Although, the antioxidant properties of betalains could be related to other bioactive molecules.…”