an overview to some natural colouring agents …polyene colourants 2. annatto fig. 2: annato seeds...

www.wjpr.net Vol 3, Issue 3, 2014.

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Hitesh et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

AN OVERVIEW TO SOME NATURAL COLOURING AGENTS USED

IN PHARMACEUTICAL FORMULATIONS

Shahare Hitesh V.1*, Kothari Lokesh P.1, Kharabe Ganesh P1., Mugdiya Yogesh N1.

Gedam Shweta S.

1SNJB’S Shriman Sureshdada Jain College of Pharmacy, Chandwad, MS, India.

ABSTRACT

The worldwide demand for natural dyes is nowadays of great interest

due to the increased awareness on the therapeutic properties of natural

dyes in public. Natural dyes are derived from naturally occurring

sources such as plants, insects, animals and minerals. Several synthetic

colorants have been banned because they cause allergy-like symptoms

or are carcinogens. Among the all natural dyes, plant-based pigments

have wide range of medicinal values. The present review, describes

the detail information about basic chemistry of the major pigments and

their medicinal importance found in naturally occurring dye yielding

plants, which are helpful to further development of pharmaceutical

formulation.

Keywords: Natural dyes, Colouring agents, Pigments, Chromogen.

INTRODUCTION

Since time immemorial human beings admired the beautiful natural colour of the plants and

mineral and sought to enhance human appearance through colour. In recent years there has

been a revival of the use of dyes and colour of natural origin for colouring food,

pharmaceutical and textile product. This increasing demand for material of natural origin is

because of toxic nature of many of the synthetic dyes which is becoming widely recognized

throughout the world. Natural pigments are the highly coloured substances found in the plant

or in animal. A dye and a pigment differ in the respect that a dye is actually absorbed by the

material when applied to the fibers to give it a permanent colour which is resistant to the

action of light, water or soap whereas a pigment is only applied to the surface. These

World Journal of Pharmaceutical ReseaRch

Volume 3, Issue 3, 3904-3916. Review Article ISSN 2277 – 7105

Article Received on 05 March 2014, Revised on 28 March 2014, Accepted on 21 April 2014

*Correspondence for

Author

Shahare.Hitesh.V

AssistantProfessor, Department

of Pharmaceutical Chemistry,

SNJB’S Shriman Sureshdada

Jain College of Pharmacy

Chandwad, Nashik, MS, India-

423101


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coloured compounds are know as chromogen and bear the chromophore and/or auxochrome

capable of absorbing light in the near ultraviolet regions and appear as a coloured substance.

Advantages of Natural Dyes

1. High diversity of rich and complex natural dye colour

2. Different colours go well together and rarely clash

3. Beauty of the results when using natural dyes

4. Self-sufficiency if growing your own plants for plant dyes

5. Not dependent on non-renewable materials

6. Allow for endless experimentation

7. Allow the replication of ancient techniques

8. Mature with age exposed to sunlight & normal use, developing a patina as colours

mellow.

Disadvantages of Natural Dyes

1. Require large quantities in comparison to chemical dyes.

2. Natural dyeing may be more costly - but the main cost is your time if you grow your own

plant dyes.

CLASSIFICATION OF NATURAL COLOURANTS

Commercial colourants include both dyes and pigments, groupings distinguishable by their

mode of application. Colorants could be divided by their (9)

a) Colour,

b) Chemical composition or structure,

c) Biological function in plant/organism (chlorophyll, haemoglobin …),

d) Physical properties (solubility).


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Natural colourings agents classified by chemical structure are;

Chemical Classifications Colors Common Names

Flavone dyes Yellow and Brown Weld, Quercitron, Fustic, Osage, Cutch Chamomile, Tesu, Dolu, Marigold,

Iso-quinoline dyes Polyene colorants Pyran colorants

Yellow Barberry, β-carotene, lycopene… gentisin

Chromene dyes Orange-Yellow Kamala

Naphthochinone dyes Brown and Purple-Grey

Henna, Walnut, Alkanet, Pitti

Chinone and Anthrachinone dyes Chromene dyes

Red Lac, Cochineal, Madder (Majithro) Santalin

Benzophyrone dyes Purple and Black Logwood Indigoid Dyes and Indole colorants Blue Indigo

SOME NATURAL COLOURING AGENTS

1. TURMERIC

Fig.1: Turmeric Plant

Turmeric is commonly known as Indian

saffron. It consists of dried, as well as

freshrhizomes of the plant Curcuma longa

Linn. Curcuminis the principal colour

present in the rhizome of the turmeric plant

(Curcuma longa). This imparts both flavour

and colour to the food product.

Chemistry of Pigments

Turmeric contains about 5% of volatile oil, resin and yellow colouring substances known as

curcuminoids. The chief component of curcuminoids is known as “curcumin”. Chemically

curcuma species contain volatile oils, starch and curcumin (50 – 60 %). Curcumin and other

related curcuminoids are reported to be responsible for yellow colour of the dye. (14-16)


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POLYENE COLOURANTS

2. ANNATTO

Fig. 2: Annato seeds

Annattois a red to orange natural (golden yellow) pigment

derived from the seed of the tropical bush Bixaorellana. The

major colour present is cis-bixin, the monomethyl ester of the

diapocarotenoic acid norbixin, which is found as a resinous

coating surrounding the seed itself. The seed consists of the

carotenoid pigment over the present bixin, a C24 –

apocarotenoid is a methyl ester which after removal of the methyl ester groups yields the

dicarboxylic acid norbixin which forms the basis of the annatto dyes. Annatto is mainly used

in food industry. Bixin is used in solid pharmaceutical dosage forms.

Chemistry of pigments

Previous phytochemical investigations have revealed the presence of several carotenoid

derivatives including bixin and norbixin, some terpenoids, tocotrienols, arenes and flavonoids

(including luteolin and apigenin) in Bixaorellanaseeds. The reddish orange colour dye of the

annatto is mainly comes from the resinous outer covering of the seeds of the plant and is

composed of the carotenoid pigments bixin ,norbixin and their esters.

Bixin

Norbixin

3. SAFFRON

It is commonly known as crocus, itconsists of dried stigmas and upper parts of styles of plant

Crocus sativus Linn. It is a widely used as natural dye in food and cosmetic Industry.


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Fig. 3: Saffron Flower


The main constituents of saffron are crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin and safranal. α-crocin is a

carotenoid pigment which is primarily responsible for saffron’s golden yellow-orange colour.

The bitter glycoside picrocrocin is responsible for saffron's flavour. It is a union of an

aldehyde sub-element known as safranal, which is responsible for the aroma of the saffron. (20-22)

Crocetin Picrocrocin

4. PAPRIKA

Fig. 4: Paparika Plant

Paprika is obtained from the fruits of selectively bred

varieties of ‘sweet peppers’, CapsicumannuumL. The fruits

are large, fleshy with an intense red colour and it has many

medicinal uses. The dried fruits consist of red carotenoids

principles, capsanthin and capsorubin. Paprika pigment is

extracted from dry capsicum fruits. It is a kind of liquid

with dark brown colour.


The pigments present in paprika are a mixture of carotenoids, in which capsanthin and

capsorubin are the main compounds responsible for the red colour of the dye. The red

carotenoid principle of paprika is permitted colouring agent for food pharmaceutical

preparation cosmetics, beverages and juice. (23-25)


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5. TOMATO

Fig. 5: Tomato plant

It is widely used in worldwide food industry and it has

potent anticancer property. It consists of fresh ripen fruits

of plant Solanumly copersicum.


The major constituents of the tomato are lycopene, α and β-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and

β-cryptoxanthin. Lycopene is a carotenoid that is present in tomatoes is responsible red

colour of the fruit. (26-29)

Lycopene

6. TAGETUS

Fig. 6: Marigold Flowers

Tagetus is popularly known as marigold, it contains

carotenoid pigments from Tageteserecta are useful in food

coloring and it has medicinal activities. The yellow or

reddish coloured flowers consists of the xanthophylls

pigment known as lutein. Lutein is used as an additive of

chicken feed to give colour to egg yolks.


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The principle colouring component of marigold flower is lutein, a fat-soluble carotenoid,

which is responsible for the yellow to orange colour of the dye. It also contains galenine,

lycopene, α-carotene, β-carotene and γ-carotene. (30-34)

Lutein Carotene

CHALCONE COLOURANTS

7. SAFFLOWER

Fig. 7: Safflower Plant

Safflower (Carthamustinctorius) has a long history of

cultivation as an oilseed crop and as a source of red dye

(carthamin). Formerly as a red dyestuff for textiles and

currently as a minor colourant by the food industry.


The main constituents of the safflower are carthamin and carthamidin. And other constituents

are safflower yellow, arctigenin, tacheloside, N-feruloyl tryptamine, N-feruloyl serotonin,

steroids, flavonoids and polyacetylenes. Carthamin is responsible for to produce water-

insoluble red dye and carthamidin for water-soluble yellow colour dye. (35)

Carthamin Carthamidin


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CHINONE AND ANTHRACHINONE COLOURANTS

9. HENNA

Fig. 8: Henna Herb

Henna is widely used in the cosmetic industry as dyeing

agent. It consists of fresh or driedleaves of the plant

Lawsoniainermis Lam. It has medicinal importance along

with dyeing property. It is a natural orange dye which is

used to dye protein fiber an orange shade. It has been used in

conjunction with dihydroxyacetone as a sunscreen agent.


The active constituent of the leaf is lawsone (0.5-1.0%). Henna contains a colouring matter,

lawsone which is generally extracted from the leaves of the plant using sodium bicarbonate.

The Lawson is principally responsible for the colourant property of the henna leaves. (36-37)

Lawsone

INDOLE COLOURANTS 10. BEET ROOT

Fig.10. Beet root

Red beet root, Beta Vulgaris, family Chenopodiaceae

consist of group of plant pigments, the red betacyanis

and yellow exanthema which are collectively

described as betalaines.


Powdered beat roots can be used for the preparation of the dye, which specially contains a

glycoside betanin, which on hydrolysis yields the income betanidine and glucose. The dye is

heat sensitive which imposes certain limitation on their use as food dye. Red dye from beats

is sold as beat juice concentric, as dehydrated be root and as a dried powder. It is a widely

used a nontoxic food and pharmaceutical colorant.


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Betanin Vulgaxanthin

ISOQUINOLINE COLOURANTS

11. BLOOD ROOT

Fig.11. Blood root

The root of the Bloodroot Sanguinaria Canadensis plant has

been used by the first Nations peoples for producing

oranges, pinks and reds. A blood red juice can be extracted

from the reddish orange root, actually a rhizome.

Chemistry of pigments:

Bloodroot contains isoquinoline alkaloids, notably sanguinarine (1 %, colorless alkaloid

yielding redsalts), and many others, including berberine which imparts the yellow colour. (40)

Sanguinarine Berberine


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PYRAN COLOURANTS

12. GINKGO BILOBA

Fig. 12: Ginkgo Biloba

The ginkgo is the oldest living tree species, geological

records indicate this plant has been growing on earth for

150 - 200 million years. It is now a commonly prescribed

drug in France and Germany. It is one of the well-

researched herbs in the world.


Quercitrin is a yellow-orange colorant isolated from Ginkgo biloba . (41)

Quercitrin

CONCLUSION

Natural dyes are not only having dyeing property but also having the wide range of medicinal

properties. Nowadays, fortunately, there is increasing awareness among people towards

natural dyes and dye yielding plants. Due to their non-toxic properties, less side effects, more

medicinal values, natural dyes are used in day-to-day food products and in pharmaceutical

industry. Although world wide possesses large plant resources, only little has exploited so far.

More detailed studies and scientific investigations are needed to assess the real potential and

availability of natural dye yielding resources in great demand on the therapeutic formulations

of natural drugs commercially. To conclude, there is need for proper methods, documentation

and characterization of dye yielding plants for further development of Pharmaceutical

industry to formulatethe natural plant pigments into therapeutically beneficial Pharmaceutical

formulations/dosage forms for safe use.

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an overview to some natural colouring agents …polyene colourants 2. annatto fig. 2: annato seeds...

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