Citranaxanthin is a carotenoid pigment used as a food additive under the E number E161i as a food coloring. There are natural sources of citranaxanthin, but it is generally prepared synthetically.[1] It is used as an animal feed additive to impart a yellow color to chicken fat and egg yolks.[2]

Citranaxanthin
Skeletal formula of citranaxanthin
Space-filling model of the citranaxanthin molecule
Names
IUPAC name
5′-Apo-β,χ-caroten-6(5H)-one
Systematic IUPAC name
(3E,5E,7E,9E,11E,13E,15E,17E,19E)-5,9,14,18-Tetramethyl-20-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohex-1-en-1-yl)icosa-3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19-nonaen-2-one
Other names
  • E161i
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.020.693 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 222-762-5
E number E161i (colours)
UNII
  • InChI=1/C33H44O/c1-26(16-11-18-28(3)21-23-31(6)34)14-9-10-15-27(2)17-12-19-29(4)22-24-32-30(5)20-13-25-33(32,7)8/h9-12,14-19,21-24H,13,20,25H2,1-8H3
    Key: PRDJTOVRIHGKNU-UHFFFAOYAC
  • CC1(C)CCCC(C)=C1C=CC(C)=CC=CC(C)=CC=CC=C(C)C=CC=C(C)C=CC(C)=O
Properties
C33H44O
Molar mass 456.714 g·mol−1
Appearance Deep violet crystals
Insoluble
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

References

edit
  1. ^ Citranaxanthin Archived 2012-10-17 at the Wayback Machine, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  2. ^ Citranaxanthin, International Programme on Chemical Safety