A B S T R A C T
Blueberry is an important source of anthocyanins, which are highly colored substances recognized for
their antioxidant activity. One of the drawbacks of using anthocyanins as food colorant is their low
stability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the variations found in color and concentration of
the compounds (which produce the color) on spray-dried powders, obtained from blueberry extracts
with added mesquite gum. Ethanolic blueberry extracts were concentrated until reaching 35% of soluble
solids. They were then spray-dried using mesquite gum as an encapsulating agent at 140 and 160 8C of
air inlet temperature and 8.5, 9.1 and 9.6 mL/min of feeding rates. The lowest losses in the content of
total phenolics, total anthocyanins, and color of the samples were found in samples dried at 140 8C and
9.1 mL/min. The microencapsulates that were stored for 4 weeks at 4 8C in the absence of light presented
low degradation of phenolics (10%), anthocyanins (7%) and antioxidant activity (15%). Final color values
were L = 39.87, C = 47.83 and H8 = 28.59, with a total color difference DE = 5.
2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved