Comprehensive Update on Carotenoid Colorants from Plants and Microalgae: Challenges and Advances from Research Laboratories to Industry
The substitution of synthetic food dyes with natural colorants continues to be assiduously pursued. The current list of natural carotenoid colorants consists of plant-derived annatto (bixin and norbixin), paprika (capsanthin and capsorubin), saffron (crocin), tomato and gac fruit lycopene, marigold...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/22/4080 |
| _version_ | 1797459304218886144 |
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| author | Delia B. Rodriguez-Amaya Patricia Esquivel Antonio J. Meléndez-Martínez |
| author_facet | Delia B. Rodriguez-Amaya Patricia Esquivel Antonio J. Meléndez-Martínez |
| author_sort | Delia B. Rodriguez-Amaya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The substitution of synthetic food dyes with natural colorants continues to be assiduously pursued. The current list of natural carotenoid colorants consists of plant-derived annatto (bixin and norbixin), paprika (capsanthin and capsorubin), saffron (crocin), tomato and gac fruit lycopene, marigold lutein, and red palm oil (α- and β-carotene), along with microalgal <i>Dunaliella</i> β-carotene and <i>Haematococcus</i> astaxanthin and fungal <i>Blakeslea trispora</i> β-carotene and lycopene. Potential microalgal sources are being sought, especially in relation to lutein, for which commercial plant sources are lacking. Research efforts, manifested in numerous reviews and research papers published in the last decade, have been directed to green extraction, microencapsulation/nanoencapsulation, and valorization of processing by-products. Extraction is shifting from conventional extraction with organic solvents to supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> extraction and different types of assisted extraction. Initially intended for the stabilization of the highly degradable carotenoids, additional benefits of encapsulation have been demonstrated, especially the improvement of carotenoid solubility and bioavailability. Instead of searching for new higher plant sources, enormous effort has been directed to the utilization of by-products of the fruit and vegetable processing industry, with the application of biorefinery and circular economy concepts. Amidst enormous research activities, however, the gap between research and industrial implementation remains wide. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:49:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1b70e8a991bd4502b4cc16dd92128982 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:49:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj.art-1b70e8a991bd4502b4cc16dd921289822023-11-24T14:41:59ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582023-11-011222408010.3390/foods12224080Comprehensive Update on Carotenoid Colorants from Plants and Microalgae: Challenges and Advances from Research Laboratories to IndustryDelia B. Rodriguez-Amaya0Patricia Esquivel1Antonio J. Meléndez-Martínez2Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-862, SP, BrazilCentro Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CITA), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa RicaFood Colour and Quality Laboratory, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, SpainThe substitution of synthetic food dyes with natural colorants continues to be assiduously pursued. The current list of natural carotenoid colorants consists of plant-derived annatto (bixin and norbixin), paprika (capsanthin and capsorubin), saffron (crocin), tomato and gac fruit lycopene, marigold lutein, and red palm oil (α- and β-carotene), along with microalgal <i>Dunaliella</i> β-carotene and <i>Haematococcus</i> astaxanthin and fungal <i>Blakeslea trispora</i> β-carotene and lycopene. Potential microalgal sources are being sought, especially in relation to lutein, for which commercial plant sources are lacking. Research efforts, manifested in numerous reviews and research papers published in the last decade, have been directed to green extraction, microencapsulation/nanoencapsulation, and valorization of processing by-products. Extraction is shifting from conventional extraction with organic solvents to supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> extraction and different types of assisted extraction. Initially intended for the stabilization of the highly degradable carotenoids, additional benefits of encapsulation have been demonstrated, especially the improvement of carotenoid solubility and bioavailability. Instead of searching for new higher plant sources, enormous effort has been directed to the utilization of by-products of the fruit and vegetable processing industry, with the application of biorefinery and circular economy concepts. Amidst enormous research activities, however, the gap between research and industrial implementation remains wide.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/22/4080plant-derived colorantsmicroalgal carotenoidsmicroencapsulationnanoencapsulationgreen extractionby-product valorization |
| spellingShingle | Delia B. Rodriguez-Amaya Patricia Esquivel Antonio J. Meléndez-Martínez Comprehensive Update on Carotenoid Colorants from Plants and Microalgae: Challenges and Advances from Research Laboratories to Industry Foods plant-derived colorants microalgal carotenoids microencapsulation nanoencapsulation green extraction by-product valorization |
| title | Comprehensive Update on Carotenoid Colorants from Plants and Microalgae: Challenges and Advances from Research Laboratories to Industry |
| title_full | Comprehensive Update on Carotenoid Colorants from Plants and Microalgae: Challenges and Advances from Research Laboratories to Industry |
| title_fullStr | Comprehensive Update on Carotenoid Colorants from Plants and Microalgae: Challenges and Advances from Research Laboratories to Industry |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comprehensive Update on Carotenoid Colorants from Plants and Microalgae: Challenges and Advances from Research Laboratories to Industry |
| title_short | Comprehensive Update on Carotenoid Colorants from Plants and Microalgae: Challenges and Advances from Research Laboratories to Industry |
| title_sort | comprehensive update on carotenoid colorants from plants and microalgae challenges and advances from research laboratories to industry |
| topic | plant-derived colorants microalgal carotenoids microencapsulation nanoencapsulation green extraction by-product valorization |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/22/4080 |
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