Abstract
Dried calyx of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. are traditionally used in Africa for beverage production by maceration in water. This raw material, rich in anthocyanins, is also known in the food industry as a source of natural dyes. However, the color of extracts obtained quickly changes over time which affects the development of these products. To better characterize and understand the instability of color, this work provides a mechanistic and kinetic study of the degradation of anthocyanins during the conservation of an extract from H. sabdariffa. Biochemical characterization of the extract allowed to identify predominant polyphenols (delphinidin 3-O-sambubioside Del-3Sb, cyanidin 3-O-sambubioside Cya-3Sb and caffeoylquinic acids) and highlighted the presence of metals known as potential oxidation catalysts (Fe, Cu, Mn). Kinetics of degradation of anthocyanins in the extract were followed by HPLC-DAD between 4 and 37 ° C for 60 days. It can be represented by a first order model. Del-3Sb (Ea = 90 kJ mol-1) is more sensitive to temperature increase than Cya-3Sb (Ea = 80 kJ.mol-1). Influence of different factors on the degradation of anthocyanins was studied in simplified model media. Rate constant of degradation (k) of Del-3Sb on model media containing Fe (III), Cu (II) and Mn (II) at similar concentrations to those of the extract was similar to that measured in the extract. For Cya-3Sb it was 40% lower than in the extract. Increasing Fe concentration of 1 to 13 mg.L 1 increased by about 3-fold the k of anthocyanins. Adding chlorogenic acid in a model media containing Fe increased k of Cya-3Sb 42%. Opposite effect was observed for Del-3Sb (47% decrease). Dissolved oxygen content has no influence on k of anthocyanins. Two mechanisms of degradation of anthocyanins have been identified: the scission mechanism, representing a minority pathway (10% of degraded anthocyanins) with production of phloroglucinaldehyde, gallic acid (from Del-3Sb) and protocatechuic (from Cya -3Sb). The other mechanism is condensation with formation of brown polymers, it is promoted by increasing of concentration of Fe was and mixture of Fe, Cu and Mn. Conclusions led to perspectives on study of impact of other compound in the extract (sugar, amino-acids) as well as identification and quantification of brown polymers.