Ultrasound‐assisted extraction and characterization of anthocyanins from purple corn bran

Purple corn is abundant in anthocyanins, which has attractive colors and potential applications in beneficial health. This study aimed to determine the optimal ultrasound‐assisted extraction conditions for purple corn anthocyanins (PCA), and to confirm the anthocyanins from purple corn bran extracts by HPLC‐DAD‐ESI‐MS/MS. Ultrasonic‐assisted extraction (UAE) is more time‐efficient by comparison of traditional extraction. Meanwhile extraction with corn bran could save the consumption of extractant and improve the extraction yield. The optimal UAE conditions were obtained with the extraction time 35 min, the ultrasonic times 90, solid–liquid ratio 1:8, and the ultrasonic power 400 W. At these conditions, total anthocyanins content was determined as 3.625 ± 0.105 g kg^?1, and the extraction yield was 92.45%. The HPLC/MS‐MS results showed that the purple corn bran extracts consisted of six kinds of anthocyanins.

Practical applications

Purple corn is abundant in anthocyanins, which has potential applications in beneficial health, such as antioxidants. The purpose of this study was to find the optimal UAE conditions for purple corn anthocyanins using ultrasound‐assisted extraction and identify the anthocyanins from the purple corn bran. The results of this study are suitable for the industrial production of purple corn anthocyanins.