Plant pigments

Description

Natural organic colorants obtained from the stems, roots and flowers of plants. Colored materials from plants have been used since ancient times and dyes and pigments. Some of the major chemical classification for plant pigments are:

- hydroxyanthraquinone: alizarin, purpurin, cochineal, kermes, lac

- carotenoid: lutein (nettles, marigold), bixin (annatto), crocetin (saffron)

- flavonoid: anthocyanins, flavonols (fustic), flavones (weld)

- tannins: gallotannin (gall oak galls, fustic young fustic), ellagitannin (sumac)

- other: indigotin (indigo), curcumin (turmeric), berberine (barberry), chlorophyll

Synonyms and Related Terms

vegetable pigments; pigmentos vegetales (Esp.); colorantes vegetales (Esp.); pigments vgtaux (Fr.); corantes vegetais (Port.)

Additional Information

J. and M. Cannon, Dye Plants and Dyeing, The Herbert Press, London, 1994.

Authority

• John and Margaret Cannon, John and Margaret Cannon, Dye Plants and Dyeing, Herbert Press, London, 1994

• Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000