Bathochromic and stabilising effects of sugar beet pectin and an isolated pectic fraction on anthocyanins exhibiting pyrogallol and catechol moieties

► Sugar beet pectin and an isolated pectic fraction produce bathochromic shifts of anthocyanins. ► Colour evolution and stability depend on the number of hydroxyl groups in the flavylium B-ring. ► Maximum colour intensity and stability of Dpd-3-glc in pectic solutions with calcium acetate buffer. ► Decomposition of anthocyanin–metal chelates follows first order kinetics. ► AUCs of normalised absorption spectra allow to deduce colour characteristics and stability. The formation of anthocyanin–metal chelates, exhibiting intense blue colours was monitored over a period up to 10weeks. Evaluating normalised absorption spectra in the range of 580–700nm and their proportion of the total area under the curve (AUC), provided information about the blue colour hue, intensity and stability. Colour stability in model solutions containing commercial sugar beet pectin or an isolated pectic polysaccharide fraction (PPF) therefrom, both being naturally enriched in aluminium and ferric ions, was assessed in a pH range of 3.6–7.0. The pectic structures stabilised anthocyanin–metal chelates, and thus blue colours by efficiently preventing complex precipitation. Highest bathochromic shifts and most intense blue colours were observed in PPF model solutions containing delphinidin-3-glucoside (Dpd-3-glc), exhibiting a pyrogallol moiety in the flavylium B-ring, compared to cyanidin- (Cyd-3-glc) and petunidin-3-glucoside (Pet-3-glc), both carrying a catechol substituted B-ring. Hue and intensity of the blue colour at pH 5.0 were only insignificantly influenced by the buffer system except for citrate and phosphate buffers, which both annihilated anthocyanin–metal chelate formation. The blue colours faded following first order kinetics. Best stabilities as deduced from storage experiments performed at 20±2°C in the dark were observed for Dpd-3-glc. In contrast, Cyd-3-glc displayed shortened half-life values, whereas blue Pet-3-glc chelates decomposed rapidly. These results demonstrate that the solubilisation of anthocyanin–metal chelates by pectic structures is a promising option for developing water soluble natural blue food colourants.