Abstract

                              Betalain is a natural pigment with antioxidant property which is used as a food colourant. Betalain was extracted from the fresh and dried samples of Bougainvillea spectabilis and Celosia cristata flowers by using different solvents (Aqueous, 50 % methanol, 100 % methanol, 50 % ethanol, 100 % ethanol and acetone). Total betalain (TB), betacyanin (BC) and betaxanthin (BX) content of the flowers were recorded by spectrometric methods. The results revealed that pigment yield was more in Bougainvillea flowers when compared to Celosia in aqueous extraction. On comparing the fresh and dried flowers, dried flowers yielded more betalain content in dried flowers. The extracts of the flowers were screened for antioxidant potentials like ABTS, DPPH, Chelating potential, FRAP and CUPRAC. From the study it was observed that the Bougainvillea and Celosia flowers possess antioxidant potential but the highest was found in the Bougainvillea flower.

Key words : Total betalain, Bougainvillea spectabilis, Celosia cristata, Antioxidant potential.