Color vibrancy enhancement of water-soluble Monascus yellow pigments through a two-step derivation with double sulfonic groups

• Published in: Food bioscience Vol. 58; p. 103653
• Main Authors: Xie, Huixin, Huang, Zhenfeng, Shi, Kan, Zheng, Kaize, Qiu, Lechuan, Wu, Zhenqiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2024
• Subjects: Amination with taurine; Bright tonality; Physicochemical stability; Sulfonation with thiourea dioxide; Water-soluble Monascus yellow pigments; Amination with taurine; Bright tonality; Sulfonation with thiourea dioxide; Water-soluble Monascus yellow pigments; Physicochemical stability
• ISSN: 2212-4292; 2212-4306
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2024.103653

Water-soluble Monascus yellow pigments (WSMYP), derived from red pigments by sulfonation, have been widely used in the food industry; nevertheless, their color vibrancy must be further strengthened. The aim of this study was to synthesize novel WSMYP with improved color characteristics. Monascus red pigments (MRP) were first synthesized from Monascus orange pigments ammoniating with taurine, and other amino acids. Subsequently, novel WSMYP (T-MYP) were further obtained by sulfonation of MRP and thiourea dioxide. T-MYP bearing double sulfonic groups exhibited notably higher colorimetric values (L*, b* and C*) than commercial WSMYP with a single sulfonic group, indicating more desirable color characteristics as yellow pigments. Additionally, T-MYP demonstrated exceptional tonality in dyeing applications, remarkable stability under various environmental stressors, including thermal and ascorbic acid exposure, varying pH levels and good DPPH/ABTS radical scavenging activity. The findings of this work provide a promising avenue for the production of WSMYP with superior tonality, robust stability and great antioxidant activity. [Display omitted] •Novel Monascus yellow pigments (T-MYP) were synthesized from MOP by two-steps.•T-MYP bears double sulfonic groups from taurine and thiourea dioxide.•T-MYP demonstrated bright color characteristics as yellow pigments.•T-MYP exhibited good stability to thermal, varying pH, and ascorbic acid exposure.•T-MYP showed outstanding tonality and antioxidant activity in dyeing applications.