Color, pigments caramel

Enzymes known as polyphenol oxidases cause enzymatic browning. Other names of the enzyme include phenolases and tyrosinases. The enzymes catalyze the conversion of monophenols and diphenols to quinones. The quinones can undergo a series of non-enzymatic reactions to produce brown, gray and black colored pigments, collectively known as melanins (11). Maillard reactions, caramelizations and ascorbic acid oxidations can produce similar types of colored compounds (12). For some food processing... 

Juices extracts (liquorize), spirits (orange, lemon), syrups (black currant), tinctures (ginger), and aromatic waters Mineral pigments (iron oxides), natural colorants, anthocyanins, carotenoids, chlorophylls riboflavine, red beetroot extract, and caramel synthetic organic dyes azo compounds... 

The most elementary, nontechnical method of identifying a polysaccharide is to burn it, observe the yellow-to-brown color, and sniff the perfumelike aroma that should be reminiscent of the aroma of maple syrup, if the test is positive. If the caramelized residue is shaken with egg white and a visible reaction produces an insoluble, pigmented deposit (melanoidin), it is empirical proof that the sample was a polysaccharide. 

Caramel colors are brown pigments produced by reaction of a saccharide with a browning accelerator. They can be considered a natural material as caramels may be formed in food. Caramels are prepared as food colors by heating a solution of a sugar (commonly glucose or sucrose) with the accelerator. The caramels can be classified as one of four types [1] shown in Table 11.1.1. 

Hodge and Rist (44) have shown the role of the Amadori rearrangement in color formation following reaction between aldoses and amino acids. The reaction can eventually lead to the development of caramel-like flavors, melanoidin pigment,... 

Apart from the derivatives of p-carotene, other pigments are the anthocyanins, the chlorophylls, cochineal, the betalaines, turmeric, caramel and riboflavin. In this account the historical background in brief, the chemistry of these pigments, their extraction from natural sources and their synthesis will be discussed. The present permitted natural substances and nature-identical synthetic materials (also described by the Food and Drugs Administration, the FDA, as colorants exempt from certification ) is quite small in number. Reference is also made to colourants no longer listed but which have an historical organic chemical significance such as for example brazilin and its relative haematoxylin. 

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