Stabilization of betalains: A review

• Review of three stabilization techniques.
• Copigmentation, encapsulation and complex formation.
• A standard protocol for encapsulation proposed.
• Possibility of enhancing bioavailability through stabilization techniques.

Betalains are vacuolar pigments composed of a nitrogenous core structure, betalamic acid [4-(2-oxoethylidene)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid]. This compound consists of a chromophore substructure 1,7-diazaheptamethin. Betalamic acid condenses with imino compounds (cyclo-DOPA or its glucosyl derivatives), or amines and/or their derivatives to form a variety of betacyanins (violet) and betaxanthins (yellow), respectively. These pigments exhibit absorption maxima in between 532–550 nm and 457–485 nm, respectively. These colors are currently in use as food additives as they are bioactive and completely safe to consume. However, owing to poor stability, their potential application in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics is severely compromised. There is a lack of scientific reports highlighting their superior tinctorial strength including fluorescence, and their excellent water solubility. For widening the color spectrum and their usage, various betalain-rich extracts have been reviewed here, focusing on their matrix effects on stability vis-a-vis purified pigments of different structural make-up. This review also encompasses work carried out in the past related to stability/stabilization of betalains and future research direction for the same.