Natural Food Colours
Betalains are nitrogen-containing pigments mainly found in:
Betalains are nitrogen-containing pigments mainly found in:
Try to answer before revealing the correct option and explanation.
Correct Answer
✅ C. Beetroot
Explanation
Betalains are water-soluble nitrogen-containing pigments mainly found in beetroot (Beta vulgaris). They are responsible for the red-violet and yellow colors of beetroot.
Two major classes of betalains are:
- Betacyanins → Red-violet pigments
-
Betaxanthins → Yellow-orange pigments
Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
- Carrot: Contains carotenoids (β-carotene).
- Tomato: Contains lycopene (carotenoid).
- Spinach: Contains chlorophyll.
Key Concept
Betalains → Beetroot pigment Water-soluble Nitrogen-containing pigments Betacyanin = red-violet Betaxanthin = yellow
Related Sub-categories
References
- Damodaran, S., Parkin, K. L. (2017). Fennema’s Food Chemistry (5th Edition). CRC Press.
- Belitz, H. D., Grosch, W., Schieberle, P. (2009). Food Chemistry (4th Edition). Springer.
- deMan, J. M., Finley, J. W., Hurst, W. J., Lee, C. Y. (2018). Principles of Food Chemistry (4th Edition). Springer.
- Coultate, T. P. (2016). Food: The Chemistry of Its Components (7th Edition). Royal Society of Chemistry.
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