BLACK CHOKEBERRY (ARONIA-MELANOCARPA) A N ATURAL SOURCE OF COLORANTS

The correct botanical name of black chokeberry is Aronia melanocarpa ( MICHX.) ELLIOTT. Chokeberries belong to the family of Rosaceaes and ar e a natural North american shrub. At the turn of the century they firs t came to russia and then to Eastern Europe. Chokeberries are small, d ark and violet fruits and remind of big blueberries or dark rowanberri es. At the moment only some hectares are cultivated in Austria. Within the most interesting compounds they have a high content of sugars (up to 26%) and colorants, i.e. Anthocyans (up to 1%). the barries contai n also flavour compounds, organic acids, flavonoids and vitamins in co nsiderable concentrations. In comparison th other dyeing plants black chokeberries show a many times higher anthocyan level. For that reason they are of special interest as a source for a natural colorant. Alte rnatively black chokeberrie can be used to obtain a finde distillate, beyound that aronia melanocalpa is known as a medical plan.