Stabilization of grape skin anthocyanins by copigmentation with enzymatically modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ) as a copigment

The thermal and light stability of grape skin anthocyanins with enzymatically modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ) as a copigment was investigated at different pH levels of 3, 4 and 5. The ratios of anthocyanins to EMIQ were 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2 (w/w), respectively, in the thermal experiments at 90 °C, and EMIQ concentrations (0.25, 0.5, and 1%, w/w) were evaluated respectively in the light experiments. Results revealed that the degradation of anthocyanins copigmented with EMIQ followed first-order reaction kinetics. The half life of anthocyanins extended significantly with the increase of EMIQ concentration (p < 0.05), moreover, the color stability increased due to the addition of EMIQ as the total color difference values ΔE* were smaller for the copigmented anthocyanins. The magnitude of the bathochromic (λ_max) shifted to the longest wavelength absorption band with the increasing copigment concentration for all pH levels. Results demonstrated that EMIQ was an effective copigment to stabilize grape skin anthocyanins.