Abstract: The purple-red petals of Althaea rosea (L.)Cavan. were used as experimental materials to extract flower pigments. The effects of light, heat, pH value, oxide, reductor, sucrose, salt, preservative and metal ions were investigated on the stability of the pigment. The components and the amounts of harmful trace elements of the crude pigments were assayed. The edible- safety was examined by the test of mice’s acute toxicity. The results indicated that this pigment was of a type of anchocyanin and had a strong resistance to light but a poor capability against H2O2 and Na2SO3. The pigment exhibited a resistance to heat treatment to certain extent. The colour of the pigment was improved by the addition of VC. Sucrose, salt, sodium benzoate and most of metal ions had no negative effects on the stability of the pigment, but Fe3+、Fe2+、Cu2+、Pb2+ and Sn2+ accelerated the pigment degradation . Based on the tests of harmful trace elements and acute toxicity, it was suggested that this pigment couldbe safely used as a natural functional pigment.

Key words: Althaea rosea(L.)Cavan., pigment, stability, anchocyanin