Natural blue-shade colorants and methods of making and using same

Abstract

Composition having a blue color including a buffer, an anthocyanin, and a divalent ion source. The composition may comprise an anthocyanin and a divalent ion source, wherein the average variation of ΔE*ab of the composition is less than 30% of the average variation of ΔE*ab of a control composition after exposure of the composition and the control composition to a 400 to 765 W/m2 light source for a period of time. The composition may comprise an anthocyanin and a divalent ion source, wherein the composition exhibits a less than 20% change in the area beneath the reflectance colorimeter spectral curve of the composition from 430 nm to 530 nm measured over a period of time. In another aspect, a method of stabilizing a blue colorant is provided. The method may comprise combining a buffer, an anthocyanin, and a divalent ion source.

1 . A composition having a blue color comprising:
 a buffer;   an anthocyanin; and   a divalent ion source.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the buffer comprises at least one of tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises about 0.1% to about 50% buffer by weight. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the anthocyanin comprises at least one of red cabbage anthocyanin, purple sweet potato anthocyanin, red sweet potato anthocyanin, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The compositions of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises about 2.5% to about 85% anthocyanin by weight. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the anthocyanin is a compound of the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 5  are each independently H, OH, or OCH 3 , and R 3 , R 4 , and R 6  are each independently H, OH, OCH 3 , a sugar residue, or an acylated sugar residue. 
       
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the anthocyanin is a natural anthocyanin. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the divalent ion is at least one of calcium ion, magnesium ion, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the divalent ion source comprises at least one of calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, magnesium carbonate, magnesium chloride, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises from about 1% to about 50% divalent ion source by weight. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises about 0.1% to about 50% buffer by weight, about 2.5% to about 85% anthocyanin by weight, and about 1% to about 50% divalent ion source by weight. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has a pH of about 5 to about 10. 
     
     
         13 . A composition having a blue color comprising:
 an anthocyanin; and   a divalent ion source;   wherein the average variation of ΔE* ab  of the composition is about 30% less than the average variation of ΔE* ab  of a control composition after exposure of the composition and the control composition to a 400 to 765 W/m 2  light source for about 13 weeks,   wherein the control composition comprises the same components as the composition in the same amounts but comprises no divalent ion source.   
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , further comprising a buffer. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the anthocyanin is a compound of the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 5  are each independently H, OH, or OCH 3 , and R 3 , R 4 , and R 6  are each independently H, OH, OCH 3 , a sugar residue, or an acylated sugar residue. 
       
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the anthocyanin is a natural anthocyanin. 
     
     
         17 . A composition having a blue color comprising:
 an anthocyanin; and   a divalent ion source,   wherein the composition exhibits a less than about 20% change in the area beneath the reflectance colorimeter spectral curve of the composition from 430 nm to 530 nm measured over a period of time, wherein the period of time is at least about 13 weeks.   
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , further comprising a buffer. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the period of time is at least about 3 months. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the anthocyanin is a compound of the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 5  are each independently H, OH, or OCH 3 , and R 3 , R 4 , and R 6  are each independently H, OH, OCH 3 , a sugar residue, or an acylated sugar residue. 
       
     
     
         21 - 32 . (canceled)