Definition of Pigments, their Functions and Types (Complete)

Definition of Pigments, Functions and Types (Complete)- On this occasion About Knowledge will discuss about Pigments. Which in this discussion explains the meaning of pigment, its functions and types briefly and clearly. For more details, see the following article.

Definition of Pigments, Functions and Types (Complete)

According to Wikipedia, Pigments or dyes are substances that change the color of visible light as a result of the selective absorption of wavelengths in a certain range. The color in plants is caused by the pigments they contain in the thylakoids present in the stroma.

Kinds of Pigment

Pigments in leaves are divided into three, namely:

1. Chlorophyll
2. Carotenoids
3. Anthocyanins

Chlorophyll is divided into 2, namely chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. Likewise with carotenoids, carotenoids are divided into xanthophylls and carotenes.

The division in the end shows that in general there are 3 kinds of pigments. In nature, there are natural pigments in various types of colors, ranging from red, yellow, green and so on. Each pigment has its own role and function.

Pigment Function

These pigments have the following functions:

1. Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll or commonly known as leaf green substance, just as the name implies is the content that causes the green color of plants. The pigment in the thylakoid membrane consists mostly of two types of green chlorophyll, namely chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b (Salisbury and Ross, 1995).

Chlorophyll a is able to absorb the spectrum of red, purple and blue light in the process of photosynthesis. While chlorophyll b is able to absorb orange and blue light and reflect green and yellow light in the process of photosynthesis. This chlorophyll will absorb energy from the sun to facilitate the photosynthesis process in plants.

The chlorophyll in plants is the same as blood in humans. This substance is very instrumental in metabolic functions such as growth and respiration (breathing) plants. The chemical composition of chlorophyll is almost the same as that of human blood. The difference is that the central atom of chlorophyll is magnesium, while the central atom of humans is iron.

1. Anthocyanins

Anthocyanins are pigments that can give blue, purple, violet, magenta, red and orange colors to plant parts such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, leaves, roots, tubers, legumes, and cereals. Anthocyanins are found in vocuoles in plant cells.

These compounds are reactive, easily oxidized or reduced, and glycoside bonds are easily hydrolyzed. This pigment is non-toxic and safe for consumption. Anthocyanins can function to fight oxidation processes in the body, protect from the dangers of DNA damage in the body, increase the immune system or the immune system by producing cytokinins in large quantities big.

Anthocyanins are also able to treat hypertension and liver dysfunction, can improve the role and function of the nerves cognitive function contained in the brain which is related to the level of intelligence, so that intelligence is increasingly honed and increased.

1. Carotenoids

Carotenoids are divided into carotenes and xanthophylls. Carotene is the pigment that causes the orange color. While xanthophyll is a pigment that causes yellow color. Carotenoids are able to protect plants against solarization by absorbing excess light energy and then releasing it as heat.

Carotenoids have very high antioxidant activity which will have an impact on increasing the immune system. Carotenoids are also a producer of provitamin A. The red color of acalipa leaves is caused because the leaves contain anthocyanin pigments. The red color of acalipa leaves also varies, there is a dark red color and a bright red color.

Pigment testing carried out on red acalipa leaves showed that red acalipa leaves contained anthocyanin pigments and chlorophyll b, although the color of the leaves colorless green acalipa leaves have chlorophyll pigment because most plants including acalipa carry out photosynthesis for plant survival that.

Photosynthesis is the process that converts light energy from the sun into chemical energy for plants. This mechanism can occur because there is a chlorophyll pigment in plants which is a macro molecule produced by plants. This compound plays a role in the photosynthesis process of plants by absorbing and converting sunlight energy into chemical energy (Kumari, 2012).

There are 3 main functions of chlorophyll, namely:

1. Utilize solar energy
2. Trigger the fixation of CO2 into carbohydrates
3. Provides an energetic basis for the ecosystem as a whole.

Carbohydrates produced by photosynthesis through anabolic processes are converted into proteins, fats, nucleic acids, and other organic molecules.

Based on the results of the experiment, various pigment colors were obtained on the leaves of red acalipa, green acalipa, and white acalipa. Physically it can be seen that the red acalipa leaves consist of several colors including green, red and white.

Through experiments that have been carried out data obtained that red acalipa leaves contain chlorophyll pigments and anthocyanin pigments with a ratio of 2.52:1. Green acalipa leaves when seen with the naked eye consist of 2 main colors, namely green and yellow on the edges of the leaves.

Based on the experiment, no anthocyanin and carotenoid pigments were found in green acalipa but it has a strong chlorophyll pigment, namely chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b with a ratio of 1: 1.6.

White acalipa has the same pigment as green acalipa, namely chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b in a ratio of 1: 1,6. These pigments are produced after the leaves are crushed and added CaCO3, then added 2 cc of acetone solution, then given 15 cc of petroleum solution and separated using a funnel separator.

This is the explanation about Definition of Pigments, their Functions and Types (Complete). Hopefully it can be useful and add to your insight. Thank you.