Study on extraction and stability of pigment in Limonium Sinuatum

The stability and extracting conditions of the pigment in violet flowers of Forget-me-not(Limonium Sinuatum) was studied. This pigment is soluble in acid water, alcohol and methanol. The pigment is bluish- green in neuter and yellow under alkaline conditions. The maximum absorptive peak of ultraviolet-visible spectrogram of the pigment is at 530 ～540 nm. The best extracting solvent is 55% alcohol (pH 2). Paper chromatogram results show two spots. It is believed that the pigment is anthocyanins. The yield of the pigment is 15.5%. E 11c%m (540 nm)=36.55. The pigment is stable in acid and below 60 ℃ and under light conditions. The pigment can be destructed by H2O2 and Na2SO3, while Na2S2O3 and Vc have no effect on it. Fe3+ and Mg2+ undermine the stability of the pigment, while Na+, K+, Ba2+ and Ca2+ have no effect on it. Sucrose, starch, benzoic acid and acetic acid have no effect on the stability of the pigment.