E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins are magnesium-containing porphyrin compounds with a long phytol chain.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins are fat-soluble and naturally occur in plant cell chloroplasts.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins structure is essential for photosynthesis.
CAS Number: 1406-65-1
Molecular Formula: C54H69MgN4O5R+2
Molecular Weight: 878.45446
EINECS Number: 215-800-7
Synonyms: c.i.1956;chlorofolin;Chlorophyl;Chromule;deodophyll;CHLOROPHYLL EXTRACT;CHLOROPHYLL, OIL SOLUBLE;CHLOROPHYLL, WATER SOLUBLE
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins and chlorophyllins (E140) are natural green pigments derived from plants, mainly responsible for the green color of leaves and algae.
They are used as food colorants.
They provide natural green coloration.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins that are responsiblefor the green colour of mostplants.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins are theprincipal sites of light absorption inthe light-dependent reactions ofphotosynthesis.
They are magnesium-containing porphyrins, chemicallyrelated to cytochrome andhaemoglobin.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins are water-soluble derivatives of chlorophyll, formed by replacing magnesium with copper and modifying the side chains.
This increases stability and solubility.
This makes them more suitable for food applications.
Physically, E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins appears as a dark green to green-black liquid or powder (depending on form).
Chlorophylls are fat-soluble, while chlorophyllins are water-soluble.
This affects their usage.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins provide a natural green color, often used in beverages, confectionery, and processed foods.
The shade can vary from bright green to olive green.
This depends on formulation and pH.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins are sensitive to heat, light, and кисл/acidic conditions, which can cause color changes (e.g., turning brown).
Chlorophyllins are more stable.
This improves usability in food processing.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins have mild antioxidant properties, though their main function is coloring.
They may also contribute to plant-based nutritional appeal.
This supports “natural” product positioning.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins are considered natural colorants, often used in clean-label products.
They are widely accepted in food applications.
This increases their popularity in natural foods.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins are best described as plant-derived green pigments used as natural food colorants, with chlorophyllins offering improved stability and water solubility for industrial use.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins also show strong pH-dependent color changes, which is one of their most important characteristics.
In acidic conditions they can turn olive-green or brownish, while in neutral to slightly alkaline conditions they remain bright green.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins are highly lipophilic (fat-soluble), meaning they dissolve in oils and fats but not in water.
Chlorophyllins, in contrast, are water-soluble, making them more practical for beverages and aqueous systems.
This difference defines their application range.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins are commonly used in green beverages, herbal drinks, and smoothies, especially chlorophyllin forms.
They provide a “natural green” appearance associated with plant-based ingredients.
This supports clean-label marketing.
In confectionery and desserts, they are used to create green-colored sweets, jellies, and ice creams.
They blend well in sugar-based or gel systems when stabilized.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins are applied in sauces, dressings, and savory products, such as herb sauces or pasta fillings.
storage temp.: Storage temp. 2-8°C
Merck: 14,2155
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins are used in cosmetics and personal care products, such as soaps, creams, and deodorants.
They provide natural green coloring and deodorizing associations.
This supports “natural” product positioning.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins are also used in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products, often as natural colorants in tablets or capsules.
They help distinguish plant-based formulations.
This improves product identification.
Chlorophyll derivatives can show limited stability under heat and light, especially chlorophylls, which degrade more easily than chlorophyllins.
Protective processing and packaging are required.
This preserves color quality.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins are sometimes used in functional foods and detox-style products, due to their association with plant health and “chlorophyll drinks.”
This is more of a marketing and wellness application.
This increases consumer interest.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins are natural green pigments widely used as food and cosmetic colorants, with chlorophyllins being more stable and water-soluble, making them more suitable for industrial applications.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins also show limited stability under acidic food processing conditions, which is one of their main practical limitations.
Acidic environments can convert the green color into dull olive or brown tones.
They undergo metal ion interactions, especially with copper in chlorophyllins, which improves stability but slightly alters the natural pigment structure.
This is why chlorophyllins are often more stable than natural chlorophyll.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins enhances industrial usability.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins are sensitive to enzymatic degradation, especially during plant processing or storage.
This can lead to color loss in fresh materials.
This requires careful extraction and handling.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins show better thermal stability than natural chlorophylls, making them more suitable for pasteurized or mildly heated products.
However, extreme heat still reduces intensity.
This limits high-temperature applications.
They are widely used in natural and plant-based product branding, where green color reinforces “healthy” or “vegetal” perception.
The color is often used more for marketing than functional nutrition.
This increases consumer appeal.
In green confectionery and bakery decorations, E140 provides natural-looking green shades for cakes, candies, and coatings.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins blends well in sugar-based systems.
This improves decorative versatility.
Chlorophyllins are used in liquid supplements and wellness drinks, often marketed as “chlorophyll water.”
They dissolve easily and maintain a green color in solution.
This supports functional beverage trends.
They are also used in cosmetic deodorants and skincare products, where chlorophyllins are associated with odor control and natural branding.
The pigment contributes to product identity.
This improves market positioning.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins can show photodegradation under strong light exposure, leading to gradual fading or color shift.
Proper packaging helps reduce this effect.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins are natural green pigments with limited stability in acidic conditions, improved performance in chlorophyllin form, and wide use in food, cosmetic, and wellness applications for natural green coloration.
Uses Of E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins:
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is a chlorin pigment found in cyanobacteria and the chloroplasts of algae and plants.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is an important molecule that plays a critical role in photosynthesis.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins a is a specific form of chlorophyll used in oxygenic photosynthesis and absorbs most energy from wavelengths of violet-blue and orange-red light.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins b is also involved in photosynthesis and absorbs primarily blue light.
There are other forms of chlorophyl such as Chlorophyll c1, c2, c3 which are accessory pigments.
Recently, E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins f was announced to be present in cyanobacteria and other oxygenic microorganisms that form stromatolites
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is used as a natural coloring agent.
It is credited with skin-soothing and healing properties thanks to its phytol content, and has a mild deodorizing effect.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is the green coloring matter found in all living plants and seen in plant leaves.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is a colorant that is a green pigment present in all green plants.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is used in sausage casings, oleomargarine, and shortening.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is used as a natural coloring agent.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is credited with skin-soothing and healing properties thanks to its phytol content, and has a mild deodorizing effect.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is the green coloring matter found in all living plants and seen in plant leaves.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is a green pigment found in plants, algae and some bacteria.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is a complex chelate of magnesium containing porphyrins.
It is a magnesium complex of the phytil ester of porphyrin propionic acid.
These pigments belong to the tetrapyrrole family of organic compounds.
Genetic and environmental differences alter the relative amounts of chlorophyll pigment production and also produce leaves, ranging in color from dark green to yellow.
The principal chlorophyll is chlorophyll-a , found in oxygenevolving organisms.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins and chlorophyllins (E140) are widely used in the food industry as natural green colorants.
They provide plant-like green shades in various products.
This improves visual appeal and “natural” positioning.
In beverages such as herbal drinks, smoothies, and green juices, chlorophyllins are commonly used due to their water solubility.
They dissolve evenly in liquids.
This ensures consistent green coloration.
They are applied in confectionery products, including candies, jellies, gummies, and chewing gum.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins provide natural-looking green tones.
This enhances product attractiveness.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is used in desserts such as ice creams, puddings, and jelly-based products.
It disperses well in gel and aqueous systems.
This improves appearance consistency.
In bakery products and decorations, such as cake coatings, icings, and fillings, it provides green coloration.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins helps create natural or themed designs.
This improves decorative quality.
It is used in savory foods and sauces, including herb sauces, pesto-like products, and dressings.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins reinforces natural green herb appearance.
This improves product authenticity.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is widely used in processed plant-based foods, such as vegan products and meat alternatives.
It enhances the natural plant-based visual identity.
This supports clean-label marketing.
In cosmetics and personal care products, such as soaps, creams, and deodorants, chlorophyllins are used for green coloration and branding.
They support “natural” product image.
This improves consumer appeal.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is also used in nutraceuticals and dietary supplements, including tablets, capsules, and liquid chlorophyll products.
It provides natural coloring and product differentiation.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is used wherever natural green coloration and plant-based visual identity are desired across food, beverage, cosmetic, and supplement applications.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins and chlorophyllins (E140) are also used in functional “wellness” and detox-style beverages, where the green color reinforces a plant-based or health-oriented image.
They are often used in bottled chlorophyll drinks and green shots.
This supports marketing appeal.
In frozen desserts such as sorbets and ice creams, E140 is used to create natural green varieties like mint or fruit-flavored products.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins blends into frozen matrices when properly stabilized.
This improves product variety.
They are applied in ready-to-eat meals and plant-based convenience foods, where green coloration is used to emphasize vegetable content.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins enhances visual perception of freshness.
This improves consumer acceptance.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is used in snack foods and coated products, such as savory chips or herb-flavored coatings.
It helps reinforce herbal or vegetable flavor profiles visually.
This improves sensory expectation.
In chewing gum and confectionery coatings, chlorophyllins provide stable green coloration on sugar-based surfaces.
They distribute evenly in coatings.
This enhances decorative effect.
They are used in liquid dietary supplements and vitamin syrups, where chlorophyllin solutions provide both color and branding value.
They dissolve well in water-based systems.
This improves product usability.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is also found in cosmetic bath products, such as shower gels, bath foams, and soaps.
It provides natural green tones associated with botanical ingredients.
This improves aesthetic positioning.
In oral care products, such as mouthwashes and toothpaste, chlorophyll derivatives are sometimes used for green coloration and fresh image branding.
They support “natural freshness” marketing.
This improves consumer perception.
They are used in specialty and artisanal food products, especially where clean-label or plant-based positioning is important.
They reinforce natural ingredient messaging.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is used wherever natural green coloration, plant-based branding, and clean-label positioning are required across food, beverage, cosmetic, and wellness-related products.
Safety Profile Of E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins:
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins are generally considered low-toxicity natural colorants, widely regarded as safe when used within approved limits.
They are derived from plant material or modified plant pigments.
Their hazard profile is relatively mild compared to many synthetic dyes.
One of the main considerations is digestive sensitivity, although this is rare.
High intake may occasionally cause mild gastrointestinal discomfort in sensitive individuals.
This is usually dose-related and temporary.
In chlorophyllin (water-soluble) form, the copper complex is tightly bound, and toxicity is very low at food-use levels.
However, excessive intake of copper-containing compounds in general could theoretically contribute to copper overload, though this is not a typical risk from food use.
Regulated limits prevent this.
Skin contact is generally non-irritating, but concentrated solutions may cause mild staining of skin or materials.
This is a physical effect rather than a toxic one.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is easily washed off in most cases.
Eye contact may cause mild irritation or temporary staining, especially with concentrated preparations.
It is not corrosive or chemically damaging.
Rinsing with water is sufficient.
Inhalation risk is very low, as E140 is typically used in liquid or food-bound forms rather than airborne powders in consumer settings.
Industrial handling may still require basic dust control.
E140 chlorophylls and chlorophyllins is not considered carcinogenic or genotoxic under normal dietary exposure conditions.