Research on Betalain Pigments from Red Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) Extracts Using LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS System

Betalains are water-soluble plant pigments recently emerging as very valuable health promoting antioxidants. Many betalains, such as betanin, are 5-O-glucosides of betanidin (the basic chromophoric aglycone unit). Betanin colorant (E-162) is produced from red beetroots (Beta vulgaris L.) and is available as a concentrate produced by vacuum evaporation of beet juice, or as a powder made by spray-drying of the concentrate. Analysis of different betalain pigments from Beta vulgaris L. root extracts was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with a diode array detection and tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS). This application note presents a procedure which enables a simultaneous analysis of betalain pigments using negative and positive modes.