Siti Aisha Na’illa Che Musa, R.M. Taha, Ummi Nur Ain Abdul Razak, Nordiyanah Anuar and A.K. Arof
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the potential use of natural colorant extracted from fruit flesh and leaves of Cucumis melo L. (C. melo L.) in coating applications.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the potential use of natural colorant extracted from fruit flesh and leaves of Cucumis melo L. (C. melo L.) in coating applications.
Design/methodology/approach
Carotenoids and chlorophylls compounds were extracted from C. melo L. fruit flesh and C. melo L. leaves with the best extraction solvents. Both compounds were tested at various pH for colour stability tests. Then, the most stable pH of both extracts was mixed with 20 per cent poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) together with tetrahydrofuran and acrylic polyol to form a coating system on glass slides. The coated glass slides were exposed to three different temperatures. The effects of heat on the coated glass slides were evaluated using spectrophotometer at 400-700 nm wavelengths.
Findings
Results revealed that carotenoids extracted from C. melo L. were less stable to be applied in coating applications since the colour degraded in a very short time; however, the chlorophylls extracted were more stable where the colour retained for longer duration.
Originality/value
The method of the plant pigment production of C. melo L. with PMMA was a modified method that could give other various applications as natural product based on plant pigments.
Details
Keywords
Ummi Nur Ain Abdul Razak, R.M. Taha, Siti Aisha Na’illa Che Musa and Normadiha Mohamed
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the potential of betacyanin pigment extracted from Hylocereus polyrhizus fruit pulp and peel as a natural colorant and to observe the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the potential of betacyanin pigment extracted from Hylocereus polyrhizus fruit pulp and peel as a natural colorant and to observe the effects of pH and light on betacyanin contents.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, pigment from the pulp and peel of H. polyrhizus fruits was extracted using 80 per cent methanol and 80 per cent acetone. Effects of pH and light exposure during storage on betacyanin content were evaluated. The betacyanin extract, mixed with 20 per cent poly(methyl methacrylate) and coated onto glass slides, was tested with different concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaCl) to determine its durability. An ultraviolet (UV)–visible spectrophotometer was used for analyzing the betacyanin content.
Findings
Betacyanin pigment extracted from pulp using 80 per cent acetone as the solvent at pH 1.0 had the highest betacyanin content. Betacyanin content decreased when stored under exposure of light compared to storage in dark. In this study, increasing concentration of NaCl decreased the absorbance values at faster rates for betacyanin-coated glass slides.
Research limitations/implications
Acetone is volatile and evaporates rapidly. Pigments extracted with acetone were stored in glass vials which were closed tightly to prevent evaporation.
Social implications
The social implication is the use of natural pigments from cactus species as a valuable and eco-friendly source in a coating system without adverse effects for human health.
Originality/value
The method for detection of stability and effectiveness of betacyanin pigment used as a natural colorant for coating application was beneficial and recent for environment-friendly and natural plant-based product development.