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Name: A. R.
Status: other
Age: 30s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 1999-2001
Question:
I believe that the answer you gave to what pigment makes beets red and red cabbage red is incorrect. These plants belong to different families and have different pigments. Red Cabbage is colored by anthocyanins. The pigment in beets is betalane (sp?). Am I right?

Replies:
Both contain anthocyanins, while beets contain betalins.

http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/Journal/Issues/1997/oct/abs1176A.html

http://www.madsci.org/experiments/archive/859332497.Ch.html

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen99/gen99505.htm

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/mailbag/purplepeas/peasanswer.htm

Anthony R. Brach, Ph.D.


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