NATURAL PIGMENT POWDER FROM Acalypha wilkesiana LEAVES VIA SPRAY DRYING: PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION

Abstract

Leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana are a rich source of anthocyanins and polyphenols; however, their applications in food technology remain underexplored. This study aimed to extract these bioactive compounds using ultrasound-assisted extraction with an ethanol–water solvent system and to investigate the spray-drying process for producing natural pigment powders. The pigments obtained were evaluated for their physicochemical characteristics, as well as anthocyanin and polyphenol contents. Optimal spray-drying conditions were identified as 10% maltodextrin (w/w relative to extract), an inlet temperature of 120 °C, and a feed rate of 360 mL/h. Under these parameters, the pigment powder exhibited a vibrant red color with anthocyanin and polyphenol recovery efficiencies of 88,91% and 60,55%, respectively. The final product contained 36,44 mg GAE/g of polyphenols and 91,23 mg Cy3Glu/100 g of anthocyanins. HPLC-DAD-MS analysis identified cyanidin-3-O-(2''-galloyl-β-galactopyranoside) as the predominant anthocyanin compound. The pigment powders extracted from A. wilkesiana leaves should be evaluated for both acute and chronic toxicity, and tested on animal models or cell cultures to determine their suitability for use in industries such as cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals.