CHARACTERIZATION OF BETACYANIN FROM DRAGON FRUIT FLESH AND ITS APPLICATION AS A NATURAL DYE FOR PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATION

Abstract

The flesh of dragon fruit (Hylocereus lemairel (Hook.) Britton and Rose) contains betacyanin pigment. Betacyanin (6-O-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl) -betanin) is red pigment that has many benefits in pharmaceutical preparation. The aim of this study was to characterize physicochemically, to measure 
the stability and to apply betacyanin as a natural dye. Extraction was carried out by water using Ultrasonic Assisted Extraction (UAE) method which is 
sonicated at 50 kHz for 30 minutes at 25°C. Extract was freeze dried for 48 hours. The dried extract was characterized and purified by using preparative 
TLC and physicochemically analysed using UV-Vis and FTIR spectrophotometers. Betacyanin stability against pH and temperature was tested and 
applied as a dye in tablet. The result of this study showed that betacyanin was detected with Rf value 0.6 which was equal to betacyanin standard Sigma 
Aldrich®. The maximum wavelength of betacyanin was obtained at 534 nm and the IR spectra showed similarity with betacyanin standard with the 
same functional groups between 4000 and 600 cm-1. The stability study results were obtained stable at temperature below 40 °C and at pH 4. Betacyanin 
applications as natural dye of tablet have been successfully carried out with good colour stability exceeding 3 months of storage at room temperature.