Optimisation of betalain extraction methods and their impact on the antioxidant potential of red amaranthus (Amaranthus tricolor L.)

Betalains are hydrophilic, nitrogen-containing pigments with potent antioxidant properties, widely found in plants of the Caryophyllales order, including red Amaranthus (Amaranthus tricolor L.). This study aimed to compare different extraction techniques for betalain pigments and evaluate their free radical scavenging capacity using the hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay (%). The results revealed that microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) with ethanol (T5) exhibited the highest scavenging activity (65.56%), while the acidified solvent extraction method (T4) demonstrated the lowest activity (46.69%). The findings suggest that selecting an optimal extraction method is crucial for preserving and enhancing the antioxidant properties of betalains. This study provides valuable insights into the functional applications of betalains in food, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceutical industries and highlights the need for further research on their stability and bioavailability.