ABSTRACTThe red‐violet pigment that occurs abundantly in nature as a beta‐cyanin‐betaxanthin complex in pokeberries (Phytolacca americana) may have potential as a food colorant. However, the berries of this plant contain a toxic saponin which must be removed prior to consideration of the pigment as a food colorant. A method involving butanol, acetone and ethyl ether was devised for the solvent extraction of the saponins from the pokeberries and/or beets (Beta vulgaris). The method was found to be effective for the isolation and purification of phytolaccanin and/or betanin pigments. As much as 97 per cent of the saponins were re
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