Anthocyanin composition and potential bioactivity of karonda (Carissa carandas L.) fruit: An Indian source of biocolorant

Carissa carandas L., belongs to Apocynaceae family, is a coloured fruit rich in pigments. Anthocyanins present in the fruit was characterised by High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS). Upon HPLC analysis, single anthocyanin was identified as cyanidin-3-O-glucoside. Further analysis by HRMS showed presence of other seven minor anthocyanins in the fruit. Minor anthocyanins were cyanidin-3-O-galactoside, delphinidin-3-O-galactoside, delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside, 5-Carboxypyranopelargonidin-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, delphinidin and peonidin-3-O-arabinoside. Total anthocyanin content was obtained as 108.6 mg kg−1. In DPPH assay, EC50 value obtained for purified anthocyanin was 52.93 μg ml−1 whereas for crude and phenolics fraction were 83.42 and 87.44 μg mL−1, respectively. Bioaccessibility of crude and purified anthocyanins were ranged between 12 and 19%. Higher content of anthocyanin in the fruit makes it suitable as promising source of natural colorant for nutraceutical utilization.