FOOD PIGMENTS: NUTRACEUTICAL COMPOUNDS WITH MULTIFUNCTIONS

Abstract

Natural pigments are compounds responsible for the diverse colours observed in living organisms, ranging from red,
orange, yellow, green, blue and purple to brown and black shades. In raw and unprocessed foods, these pigments enhanced
visual appeal and strongly influenced consumer perception of freshness, quality and acceptability. Natural pigments are widely
distributed in plants, animals and microorganisms like algae, fungi and yeasts. Besides contributing to colour, these compounds
perform numerous essential biological functions. In nature, pigments often act as attractants or mating signals helping organisms
communicate and reproduce successfully. In some species, coloration provided camouflage and protection against predators.
Several pigments also played critical physiological and metabolic roles. For example, chlorophylls and carotenoids are directly
involved in photosynthesis, energy generation and biosynthetic pathways. Other pigments function as antioxidants, protecting
biomolecules from oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species. Certain compounds are involved in vision, while others
protect skin and cellular membranes from harmful effects of sunlight and radiation. Because of their multifunctional roles, interest
in natural pigments extends beyond their colouring properties. In recent years, increasing attention has been given to their
nutraceutical and functional benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and health-promoting effects. Alongside natural
pigments, synthetic and microbial food colourants are also widely used in the food industry to improve appearance and consumer
appeal. However, concerns regarding the safety and health impacts of some synthetic pigments have encouraged greater
research and utilization of natural alternatives. Therefore, natural, synthetic and microbial food pigments continue to be important
not only for enhancing food aesthetics but also for their potential effects on human health and wellbeing.