Solubilization of water soluble anthocyanins in apolar medium using reverse micelle.

Crude anthocyanins extracted from grape skin were solubilized in hexane containing 100 mM bis(2-ethylhexyl)sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) by forming stable reverse micelles (RMs). Anthocyanins solubilized in RMs showed about four times greater color intensity than that in aqueous medium. The color intensity of anthocyanins in RMs was primarily affected by the interaction between sulfonate head of AOT and flavylium cation of anthocyanins.