Abstract
Currently, many industries prefer the use of natural dyes over synthetic ones due to health, safety, and ecological concerns. This study compares the application and characterization of two extracted natural colors from the fruits of Monotheca buxifolia, a plant found in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan in Pakistan, to propose a sustainable dyeing solution for the food industry. Gravimetric analysis indicates that the aqua-enhanced extraction method yields a higher percentage than the maceration method. SQ1 demonstrates high ash content, carbohydrates, flavonoids, phenolics, and antibacterial properties, surpassing SQ2, which exhibits a high anthocyanin content. FTIR analysis identifies alcohols, alkanes, aldehydes, ketones, sulfones, and ethers as major functional groups. Furthermore, natural colors were tested in hard candies for color efficiencies in terms of CIE L* a* b* values. A comparison of both SQ1 and SQ2 candies reveals that SQ1 candy has higher moisture, ash, flavonoid, phenolic content and zone of inhibition against S. aureus bacteria. Both candies exhibit similar BRIX values and solubility times, but lack antifungal properties. The overall results suggest that the fruit extract of Monotheca buxifolia is suitable for manufacturing eco-friendly colors for various industries as a safer and sustainable alternative to non-biodegradable synthetic dyes.