Stability and Antioxidant Activity of R-Phycoerythrin from Gracilaria birdiae.

R-phycoerythrin (R-PE) is a red pigment present in algae with potential application in the biotechnology industry. This study aims the physical-chemical characterization and antioxidant activity of R-phycoerythrin from Gracilaria birdiae (CE-Gb). The spectroscopic stability of the pigment against different additives was also evaluated. The results showed antioxidant activity dependent on pigment concentration. Furthermore, the degradation of R-PE was maximum in CE-Gb without preservatives, and the addition of ascorbic acid (AA) reduced the color loss of the pigment during storage. G. birdiae proved to be a potential source of R-PE, which can be used as a dye in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]