Paprika oleoresin is an oil soluble extract from the fruits of Capsicum

Capsicum

Capsicum is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Its species are native to the Americas where they have been cultivated for thousands of years, but they are now also cultivated worldwide, used as spices, vegetables, and medicines - and have become are a key element in...

 Annum Linn or Capsicum

Capsicum

Capsicum is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Its species are native to the Americas where they have been cultivated for thousands of years, but they are now also cultivated worldwide, used as spices, vegetables, and medicines - and have become are a key element in...

 Frutescens(Indian red chillies), and is primarily used as a colouring and/or flavouring in food products. It is composed of capsaicin

Capsaicin

Capsaicin 2CHCH=CH4CONHCH2C6H3-4--3- ) is the active component of chili peppers, which are plants belonging to the genus Capsicum. It is an irritant for mammals, including humans, and produces a sensation of burning in any tissue with which it comes into contact...

, the main flavouring compound giving pungency in higher concentrations, and capsanthin and capsorubin, the main colouring compounds (among other carotenoid

Carotenoid

Carotenoids are tetraterpenoid organic pigments that are naturally occurring in the chloroplasts and chromoplasts of plants and some other photosynthetic organisms like algae, some bacteria, and some types of fungus. Carotenoids can be synthesized fats and other basic organic metabolic building...

s).

Extraction is performed by percolation with a variety of solvents, primarily hexane

Hexane

Hexane is a hydrocarbon with the chemical formula C6H14; that is, an alkane with six carbon atoms.The term may refer to any of four other structural isomers with that formula, or to a mixture of them. In the IUPAC nomenclature, however, hexane is the unbranched isomer ; the other four structures...

, which are removed prior to use.

Uses

Foods coloured with paprika oleoresin include cheese, orange juice, spice mixtures, sauces, sweets and emulsified processed meats. In poultry feed it is used to deepen the colour of egg yolks.

In the United States, paprika oleoresin is listed as a color additive “exempt from certification” (http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_02/21cfr73_02.html Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations part 73) and generally classified as a natural color. In Europe, paprika oleoresin (extract), and the compounds capsanthin and capsorubin are designated by E160c.

Names and CAS nos

Trival Name	Preferred Name	AutoNom Name	Cas No.
Capsaicin	8-Methyl-N-vanillyl-trans-6-nonenamide	((E)-8-Methyl-non-6-enoic acid 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzylamide	404-86-4
Capsanthin	(all-E,3R,3'S,5'R)-3,3'-dihydroxy-β,κ-caroten-6'-one	(2E,4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E,16E,18E)-19-((R)-4-Hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-cyclohex-1-enyl)-1-((1R,4S)-4-hydroxy-1,2,2-trimethylcyclopentyl)-4,8,13,17-tetramethyl-nonadeca-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18-nonaen-1-one	465-42-9
Capsorubin	(all-E,3S,3'S,5R,5'R)-3,3'-dihydroxy-κ,κ-carotene-6,6'-dione	(2E,4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E,16E,18E)-1,20-Bis-((1R,4S)-4-hydroxy-1,2,2-trimethyl-cyclopentyl)-4,8,13,17-tetramethyl-icosa-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18-nonaene-1,20-dione	470-38-2