Provided is an anthocyanin pigment composition having the following features: (A) an aqueous solution containing the composition and adjusted to pH of 3 with a citrate buffer (pH: 3.0) has a maximum absorption wavelength of 500 to 550 nm in the visible light region; (B) when a pigment-composition-containing aqueous solution containing the composition, 0.2 mass % citric acid, 20 mass % ethanol, and water is prepared so as to have a color value E.sup.10%.sub.1 cm of 10, 1 mL of the aqueous solution is sealed in a 20-mL vial, and the vial is stored at 50° C. for 5 days and further maintained at 40° C. for 30 minutes, the total amount of methyl mercaptan, dimethyl disulfide, and dimethyl trisulfide in the gas in the sealed space of the vial is 100 pg/mL or less; and (C) the gas in the sealed space of the vial contains 5-methylthiopentanenitrile when the vial is maintained at 40° C. for 30 minutes in (B) above.

A betalain pigment composition from red beet plants including pre-harvest foliar spraying of an ethylene-generating compound and the use of the obtained betalain pigment composition for coloring of an edible product

A betalain pigment composition from red beet plants including pre-harvest foliar spraying of an ethylene-generating compound and the use of the obtained betalain pigment composition for coloring of an edible product

A preparation in the form of a powder containing: (a) at least one carotenoid, (b) at least one modified starch, and (c) sucrose; wherein the at least one carotenoid is present in the powder in an amount of 1 to 25% by weight, based on the weight of the powder; and wherein the at least one carotenoid and the sucrose are present in the powder in a ratio by weight of 1:2 to 1:80.

A preparation in the form of a powder containing: (a) at least one carotenoid, (b) at least one modified starch, and (c) sucrose; wherein the at least one carotenoid is present in the powder in an amount of 1 to 25% by weight, based on the weight of the powder; and wherein the at least one carotenoid and the sucrose are present in the powder in a ratio by weight of 1:2 to 1:80.

The invention provides compounds, methods, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits for the treatment of proliferative disorders such as cancer. In one aspect, the methods comprise compounds that inhibit the activity of protein kinases, such as cell division cycle (Cdc) kinase. In another aspect, the methods comprise compounds that inhibit Cdc7 and/or Dbf4 activity. In another aspect, the methods comprise compounds that exhibit anti-proliferative properties useful in treating diseases such as cancer. Compounds useful for any of the methods include compounds of the Formula (A) or (B):

##STR00001##

or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Exemplary compounds of Formula (A) or (B) include granaticin A, granaticin B, dihydrogranaticin A, dihydrogranaticin B, medermycin, and actinorhodin.

The invention provides compounds, methods, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits for the treatment of proliferative disorders such as cancer. In one aspect, the methods comprise compounds that inhibit the activity of protein kinases, such as cell division cycle (Cdc) kinase. In another aspect, the methods comprise compounds that inhibit Cdc7 and/or Dbf4 activity. In another aspect, the methods comprise compounds that exhibit anti-proliferative properties useful in treating diseases such as cancer. Compounds useful for any of the methods include compounds of the Formula (A) or (B):

##STR00001##

or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Exemplary compounds of Formula (A) or (B) include granaticin A, granaticin B, dihydrogranaticin A, dihydrogranaticin B, medermycin, and actinorhodin.

The present invention provides an aqueous pigment-material solution which has excellent thermal stability and less fading particularly even under an acidic condition, a method for producing the same, and a blue-colored beverage. Provided are an aqueous pigment-material solution including a pigment material containing 20 mmol to 200 mmol of polycarboxylic acid having one or more hydroxy groups, in terms of carboxylic acid equivalent, per 1 g of phycocyanin, in which when both the phycocyanin and the polycarboxylic acid are added such that a color value represented by absorbance at 620 nm is 2.5 to 5, an optical density per 1 cm of an optical path length at 800 nm is 0.05 or lower at a hydrogen ion concentration (pH) of 3 or lower, a method for producing the aqueous pigment-material solution, and a blue-colored beverage.

The present invention provides an aqueous pigment-material solution which has excellent thermal stability and less fading particularly even under an acidic condition, a method for producing the same, and a blue-colored beverage. Provided are an aqueous pigment-material solution including a pigment material containing 20 mmol to 200 mmol of polycarboxylic acid having one or more hydroxy groups, in terms of carboxylic acid equivalent, per 1 g of phycocyanin, in which when both the phycocyanin and the polycarboxylic acid are added such that a color value represented by absorbance at 620 nm is 2.5 to 5, an optical density per 1 cm of an optical path length at 800 nm is 0.05 or lower at a hydrogen ion concentration (pH) of 3 or lower, a method for producing the aqueous pigment-material solution, and a blue-colored beverage.

A disinfectant system comprises a first part comprising a first reagent in a carrier medium; and a second part which is miscible with the first part and which comprises a second reagent in a carrier medium. The first reagent and the second reagent will react when mixed to provide a chlorine dioxide disinfecting composition. The first part or the second part further comprises an anthocyanin, anthocyanidin or betanin dyestuff, which oxidises in the presence of chlorine dioxide to produce a visible colour change upon mixing of the first reagent with the second reagent, and the colour change does not occur upon exposure of the dyestuff-containing part to a disinfecting composition comprising hydrogen peroxide and/or peracetic acid.