Anthocyanin Pigments of Sweet Potatoes–Ipomoea batatas

The anthocyanin pigments of red sweet potato roots (Impomoea batatas) were isolated, purified and identified by HPLC and conventional paper chromatographic, spectral and chemical methods. Two major pigments and two minor pigments were present in fresh tissue slices extracted with boiling 1% HAc methanol. Tissues extracted cold yielded 11 or more pigments probably from degradation of the two major pigments. One major pigment was identified as peonidin‐3‐diglucoside‐5‐glucoside with three molecules of ferulic acid and one molecule of caffeic acid. The other major pigment was peonidin‐3‐diglucoside‐5‐glucoside with two molecules of ferulic acid and one caffeic acid.