Research Article

Characterization of Red Poppy (Papaver rhoeas L.) Extract: An Alternative Food Colorant

Volume: 28 Number: 4 July 4, 2025
TR EN

Characterization of Red Poppy (Papaver rhoeas L.) Extract: An Alternative Food Colorant

Abstract

The growing interest in natural products has prompted researchers and the food industry to seek out clean additives. The red petals of the poppy plant offer a strong alternative to synthetic additives, thanks to their bioactive compounds and vibrant color. This study extracted anthocyanins from poppy petals using an acid-ethanol-water mixture and examined the nutritional properties and color stability of the resulting pigment. It was found that the poppy extract (PE) is rich in sodium and potassium minerals and contains major phenolic compounds, such as quercetin and kaempferol. The total anthocyanin content was determined to be 17.11 ± 0.60 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside g-1. The antioxidant activity of PE was evaluated using DPPH, CUPRAC, and FRAP assays, with results of 0.92 ± 0.08 µg mL-1, 155.98 ± 8.73 mM TE g-1, and 581.94 ± 12.09 µmol TE g-1, respectively. Antimicrobial activity of PE was determined on 4 pathogenic microorganisms, Salmonella enteridis, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Staphylococcus aureus, with the highest inhibition order. The anthocyanins were found to decrease by approximately 15% after 60 minutes of heat treatment at 100°C, and oxidative degradation (H2O2) increased over time but did not exceed 13%. Additionally, under different pH levels, the anthocyanins exhibited characteristic behavior, shifting in color from red to purple and then to a yellowish green. In conclusion, poppy extract has the potential to be used as a functional colorant in food products subjected to heat treatment and oxygen exposure. Furthermore, its ability to change color with pH paves the way for its application in the development of smart packaging.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

This study does not involve any human or animal testing.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Food Engineering

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

June 10, 2025

Publication Date

July 4, 2025

Submission Date

November 15, 2024

Acceptance Date

April 15, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 28 Number: 4

APA
Kaynarca, G. B., Yanardağ Karabulut, Ş., Güleç, H. A., & Altan Kamer, D. D. (2025). Characterization of Red Poppy (Papaver rhoeas L.) Extract: An Alternative Food Colorant. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım Ve Doğa Dergisi, 28(4), 1103-1121. https://doi.org/10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1585256

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