Celebrating our Master's students!

The ChromaQuest project was launched with an ambitious goal: to unlock the potential of natural pigments and develop innovative ways to improve their stability and usability in real-world applications. Natural colorants are increasingly sought after by the food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and materials industries, but many of these compounds are highly sensitive to light, oxygen, temperature, and processing conditions.

Today, we are proud to celebrate two important milestones within the project-the successful completion of Master's theses by Reicela Mieze and Taisija Gricenko. Their research contributes valuable knowledge to the sustainable production, stabilization, and application of naturally derived pigments.

Unlocking Valuable Compounds from Marigold Petals

Reicela Mieze's Master's thesis, "Sequential Solvent Extraction for Obtaining Carotenoid- and Polyphenol-Rich Extracts from Marigold (Tagetes erecta) Petals", explored how valuable natural compounds can be efficiently recovered from marigold flowers.

Marigolds are much more than ornamental plants. Their bright orange and yellow petals contain carotenoids-the same family of pigments responsible for the vibrant colors of carrots and pumpkins as well as polyphenols, compounds known for their antioxidant properties.

The challenge lies in extracting these compounds efficiently. Different bioactive molecules dissolve best in different types of solvents, much like some substances dissolve better in water while others prefer oil. Reicela investigated a stepwise extraction approach using solvents of varying polarity to selectively recover both carotenoids and polyphenols from marigold petals.

Her research also examined whether the intensity of petal coloration could serve as an indicator of pigment content, helping identify the most suitable plant material for extraction. Based on the findings, optimal extraction conditions were established and later applied to supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂) extraction which is a green technology that uses pressurized CO₂ instead of large quantities of conventional solvents.

The work demonstrates how agricultural and horticultural biomass can be transformed into valuable sources of natural pigments and antioxidants, supporting more sustainable use of biological resources and advancing the development of naturally derived colorants.

Giving Berry Pigments New Properties

Taisija Gricenko's Master's thesis, "Optimization of Anthocyanin Acylation from Berry Press Residues", focused on one of nature's most fascinating pigment groups: anthocyanins.

Anthocyanins are responsible for the red, purple, and blue colors found in berries, cherries, blackcurrants, and many other fruits. While these pigments are attractive natural colorants, they are often unstable and can lose their color during processing and storage.

Taisija's research addressed this challenge by investigating ways to modify anthocyanins extracted from berry press residues the nutrient-rich by-products left after juice production. Instead of treating these residues as waste, the work demonstrates how they can become a valuable source of high-added-value ingredients.

The study evaluated six different berry residue samples and identified honeysuckle berry press residues as particularly rich in anthocyanins and polyphenols. The extracted pigments were then subjected to enzymatic acylation, a process that attaches additional molecular groups to anthocyanins. This modification can improve their stability and alter their interaction with different environments.

By optimizing reaction conditions and using advanced analytical techniques to verify the molecular changes, Taisija demonstrated an effective procedure for modifying anthocyanins from various berry sources. The resulting pigments exhibited altered lipophilicity, opening new possibilities for their incorporation into a wider range of products and formulations.

Her work contributes to the growing field of natural pigment stabilization and highlights how food industry side streams can be transformed into valuable functional ingredients.

Together, these two theses embody the core vision of ChromaQuest: transforming natural resources into innovative, sustainable solutions through science and technology.

Both projects address important challenges facing the future of natural colorants efficient extraction, improved stability, and the valorization of underutilized biological resources. Their findings help bring us closer to a future where naturally derived pigments can replace synthetic alternatives in a wider range of applications.

Most importantly, they represent the dedication, curiosity, and scientific excellence of two young researchers at the beginning of their professional journeys.

Congratulations to Reicela Mieze and Taisija Gricenko on the successful completion of their Master's studies and on their valuable contributions to the ChromaQuest project. We are proud of your achievements and look forward to seeing where your scientific careers will lead next.