Page 186 - Zbornik_Konf_2019

https://doi.org/10.15414/2019.9788055220703

4 International Scientific Conference Abstracts Book
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STATE OF CARTHAMIN IN WATER AND STEAM EXTRACTS OF SAFFLOWER (CARTHAMUS
TINCTORIUS L.) PETALS

Alexandra Savcenco, Alexei Baerle
Technical University of Moldova, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova;
E-mail.: alexei.baerle@chim.utm.md
The chemical structure and high polarity of carthamin, a red dye from Safflower, was
reliably proven by numerous investigations using thin-layer and HPLC chromatography, H-
NMR, and C-NMR. At the same time, some reputable sources indicate a very low solubility of
carthamin in water.
The aim of this study was to identify the truth in this matter, to find out the cause of the
discrepancies, to establish the relationship between the form of these dyes in aqueous media
and their applicability in various food products.
Safflower air-dry petals served as raw materials for carthamin obtaining. Microscopic
examination showed that the dye is in the petals in the form of grains of 30±5 microns in size.
Hot steam with a temperature of 98–99 °C was passed through a loose layer of petals at a
speed of 1 g/min. The condensate was collected in individual portions, then electron spectra
were recorded in the range of 200–800 nm for each portion collected. The spectra are
characterized by two peaks at 330 and at 395 nm. Despite the fact that the peak at 330 nm is
higher, the peak at 395 nm is more suitable for the quantitative characterization of the
content of dyes in steam extracts, since it is more distinct. It is important, that all UV-Vis
spectra integrals of extracts obtained by hot steam are proportional to the values of the main
optical densities at 395 nm. This correlation is a simple proof of the constancy of the
composition of the various parts of the extract (in relation to substances active in the spectra)
during extraction.
We have found that aqueous dye extracts contain unidentified biopolymers that behave
like electrically charged oligosaccharides. The separation of the solid phase of these
oligosaccharides takes place in a range of 3–7 pH-units. We managed to separate the white
alcohol-insoluble precipitate of biopolymers from a high water- and alcohol-soluble dye. Thus,
carthamin in aqueous extracts loses in solubility precisely due to the formation of complexes
with biopolymers.
At the same time, in case of steam extraction, a completely water-soluble dye is
obtained. To extract 30, 60, 95 and 99 % of the coloring matter, you need to skip about 12, 25,
40 and 50 g of hot steam through 1 g of petals, respectively. Low velocity of extraction can be
explained with the natural state of carthamin in form of solid grains in Safflower petals, which
extend the time of diffusion and elution of dye.
From our point of view, differences between the state of carthamin in petals, hot-water
and steam extracts explain the discrepancies between the polar structure and the seemingly
low solubility of carthamin in water. To verify this hypothesis, we initiated an electrochemical
study, the results of which will be presented later.
The temperature resistance and confirmed high solubility of carthamin in water (in the
condition of its separation from accompanying substances) makes this dye suitable to various
technological operations and contribute to increasing the economic feasibility of Safflower
growing. Carthamin is an excellent natural alternative to synthetic azo dyes, which,
unfortunately, are still used in food products. Steam-extraction of Safflower petals provides
sterilized water-soluble red natural dye with a wide range of uses.

Keywords: carthamin, solubility in water, steam extraction, bio-polymers, UV-spectra.

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September 11–13, 2019