HPTLC technology for detection of a common adulterant in Bilberry extract

Anthocyanins, an active ingredient in Bilberry extract, has been shown to be especially beneficial for nighttime visual acuity and for improving microcapillary circulation. Due to its high content of anthocyanins, Bilberry extract of good quality is intensely purple colored.
In order to cover up poor quality, Bilberry extract is deliberately adulterated with amaranth, a dark red azo dye. Suspected to be carcinogenic, amaranth has been banned for use in food and cosmetics in the United States.
CAMAG Laboratory developed a HPTLC method to identify the presence of amaranth in Bilberry extract even at low concentration in a  fast and reliable way, without derivatization step.