Abstract: The stability of red pigment from Gerasus fruticosa was investigated in this paper. The results showed: pH exerteda large effect on the pigment stability, while lowering the pH in the range 1～4 had little effect. Of the various metallic ions tested,it was found that Na+、Al3+、Zn2+ had effects of tone fortification on the pigment; Cu2+(<0.1mol/L)、glucose、ascorbicacid had little effect and sucrose was shown to have a definite effect of degradation. However Fe3+ had severe undesirable effect.Furthermore, hydrogen peroxide and sodium sulfite were observed to have marked increase in the rate of the pigment degradation;Besides, preservative sodium benzoate had no undesirable effect at lower concentrations(<1%), but at higher concentrations(>1%)had effect of obvious degradation.

Key words: Gerasus fruticosa, red pigment, stability