Abstract:

Red pigments were extracted with 70% acidified ethanol (pH 3, HCl) and purified by C18 Sep-Pak column
chromatography. The radical scavenging activity of the purified pigments was assessed against •OH, O2
－• and
DPPH radical. The contents of anthocyanins, total phenols and total sugar in the crude extract and the purified product
were determined by pH differential method, Folin-Ciocalteau method and anthrone colorimetric method, respectively.
Results showed that the contents of anthocyanin, total phenols and total sugar in the crude extract were 1.16, 2.18 mg/100 g and
1095.34 mg/100 g, respectively, while those in the purified product were 20.61, 48.62 mg/100 g and 0 mg/100 g,
respectively. The IC50 values of the purified product against •OH, O2
－• and DPPH radical were 1.43, 3.13 μg/mL and
3.43 μg/mL, respectively. These results indicate that the C18 Sep-Pak column chromatography could effectively remove
sugar compounds and concentrate anthocyanins and total phenols in the crude extract. The purified red pigments had a
relatively strong antioxidant capacity.

Key words: Pyracantha fortuneana, red pigment, purify, antioxidant activity