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International Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemical Research 2014; 6(2); 146-150

ISSN: 0975-4873
Research Article

Herbal Ink: Safe, Easy and Ecofriendly Alternative

*Powar P. V, Lagad S B, Ambikar R.B, Sharma P. H.
Department Of Pharmaceutics, Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patil College of Pharmacy, Akurdi, Pune-411044.India

Available online: 1st June 2014

ABSTRACT
Nature has gifted us more than 500 colour yielding plants. India is a major exporter of herbal dyes due to forbid on
production of some of synthetic dyes in developed countries due to environmental pollution problem. A survey in primary
school indicated that few children inadvertently ingested ink, currently it is observed that only synthetic ink are used which
may be harmful for children health. Hence for benefit of children, it was thought worth to prepare edible ink. Four herbal
inks were prepared from different biological sources such as Beta valgaris (Beet Root) Chenopodiaceae, Citrus limonene
(Citrus peel) family Rutaceae, Pentas lanceolata (Butterfly Flow petals) family Rubiaceae , Bauhinia purpurea (Butterfly
tree) family Caesalpiniaceae etc. The herbal inks were evaluated for several parameter such as Color, Odour, Taste,
Brightness, Drying time , Flow ability, Non-clogging nature, Viscosity, Permanency of colour, Stability. All inks were
found to edible, safe, easy to prepare and stable.

Keywords: Plant extracts, Water, Vinegar, Alcohol.

INTRODUCTION permitted as food additives like saffron, Beet Root,

Ink is a liquid or paste that contains pigments or dyes and Annatto, Elderberry, Pandan, Butterfly pea, turmeric 4. In
is used to color a surface to produce an text, picture this study few plant species such as Beta valgaris (Beet
or design. Ink is used for drawing or writing with the help Root) family Chenopodiaceae, Citrus limonene (Citrus
of pen, brush. Ink can be a complex medium, composed peel) family Rutaceae, Amelanchier arborea (Butterfly
of solvents, pigments, dyes , resins , lubricants, Flower petals), Bauhinia purpurea (Butterfly tree) family
solubilizers , surfactants, particulate matter, fluoresces, Caesalpiniaceae were chosen for preparation of herbal ink.
and other materials as shown in Fig No 1. The components These plants are easily available with added
of inks serve many purposes; the ink’s carrier, colorants, pharmacological activity such as hypotensive,
and other additives affect the flow and thickness of the ink cardiovascular protective, vasodilatation, anti-fungal,
and its appearance when it dry1. antibacterial,etc.
History revels that Chinese have recorded the use of dye
even before 2600 BC. In middle of 1800, chemists began MATERIALS AND METHODS
producing synthetic substitutes2. By early 20th century only Collection of Plant Material and Authentication: Beta
a little percentage of fabric dyes were extracted from vulgaris, Citrus limonene, Pentas lanceolata, Bauhinia
herbal sources. There has been rising interest in herbal purpurea were collected from local market and
dyes and ink as consumers have become conscious of authenticated at National Research institute of Basic
ecological and environmental problems3. Natural dyes are Ayurvedic Sciences, Pune. A voucher specimen obtained
now a days in demand not only in textile industry but in was 4407.
cosmetics, leather, food and pharmaceuticals because no Preparation of maroon ink from beetroot (Beet vulgaris) by
disposable problems as are biodegradable. simple extraction
Ink is a liquid that contain pigment. Dye based inks are Bilogical source: It consists of the roots of Beta vulgaris of
usually much stronger than pigment based inks can family Chenopodiaceae 8.
produce much extra colour of density, because dyes are Materials: Beetroot-250g, Vinegar-10ml, Water-1000ml
dissolved in liquid phase. Method: Beetroots were chopped and grinded. To the
Several natural dye yielding plant are available medicinal grinded paste 500ml of water was added. Then it was
value, such as aloe (cathartic), adhatoda vasica (bronchial), boiled for 45 min and is cooed and filtered with help of
indigo feranticto (epilepsy) crocus sativus muslin cloth. Re-extracted using double the quantity of
(sedateve).Herbal ink overcomes few of problems lead by water and concentrate to
synthetic ink via less expensive and not tedious process, the 200ml of the concentrated extract.5-10ml of vinegar
Nontoxic, Safe to use in foods and confectionaries. They was added. It was filtered and stored in an air tight glass
are obtained from renewable sources. Herbal dyes are less bottle in a cool place away from light.
toxic than chemical dyes, and some of natural dye are Preparation of yellow ink from Citrus fruit

*Available online: E-mail: priyatama.powar@gmail.com

 Powar P. V et al. / Herbal Ink: Safe…

g No:2 Synthetic
Fig.
Inks
1: based
Types on
of Inks
nature of chromophore Fig. 2: Synthetic Inks based on nature of
chromophore

Fig. 3: Ink formulas5 . Fig. 4: Four Classes of Ink

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Fig. 5: History of Ink6,7 .

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 Powar P. V et al. / Herbal Ink: Safe…

Biological source: Fresh Citrus peels of Citrus limonene a cool place away from sunlight.
family Rutacceae. Citrus is a common term Preparation of Red ink form Pentas lanceolata
and genus (Citrus) of flowering plants 9. Biological source: It consists of flowers obtained from
Materials: Citrus fruit peels -20g, Vinegar-5ml, Water- plants Pentas lanceolata of Family Rubiaceae.
500ml Materials: Pentas lanceolata flowers-20g, Alcohol -5ml,
Method: 20grams of citrus peels was grinded. To this Water-500ml
500ml of water was added and boil for 60 mins. The extract Method: 20 grams of Flower patels was grinded, to this
was filtered. Again it was concentrated to half of its 500 ml of water was added and boiled for 90mins, then it
volume by heating. To this final extract 5ml of vinegar was was filtered and concentrated for 45 mins. It was cooled
added. It was filtered and stored in air tight glass bottle in

Fig. 6 : Plant Source Fig. 7 : Grinded material

Fig. 8 : Extraction of Beet Root Fig. 9: Beet Root Ink

Table 1: Effect UV rays on Ink (Stability)

Parameter UV rays / Beta valgaris Ink Citrus limonene Ink Amelanchier Bauhinia purpurea
sunlight arborea Ink Ink
1st day of exposure No change in colour No change in colour No change in colour No change in colour
2st day of exposure No change in colour No change in colour No change in colour No change in colour
3st day of exposure No chang in colour No change in colour No change in colour No change in colour
4st day of exposure No change in colour No change in colour No change in colour No change in colour
5st day of exposure No change in colour No change in colour No change in colour No change in colour
6st day of exposure No change in colour No change in colour No change in colour No change in colour
7st day of exposure No change in colour No change in colour No change in colour No change in colour
Table 2: Effect of UV rays and sunlight on Ink - 2nd week of exposure
Resistant to UV light Low (1 to 3 days) Medium (3rd day to 7th day) High (After a week)
Beet vulgaris (Maroon Coloured No change of colour No change of colour No change of colour
Ink)
Citrus limonene (Yellow Coloured No change of colour No change of colour No change of colour
Ink)
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Pentas lanceolata No change of colour No change of colour No change of colour

Flower (Red Coloured Ink)
Bauhinia purpurea Flower No change of colour No change of colour No change of colour
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(Purple colored ink ink)

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 Powar P. V et al. / Herbal Ink: Safe…

Fig. 10 : Plant Source Fig. 11 : Grinded Citrus Peel Fig. 12 :Citrus Ink (Citrus limonene)

Fig. 13: Plant Source Fig. 14 : Grinded material Fig. 15 : Pentas lanceolata

Fig. 16: Plant Source Fig. 17: Grinded material Fig. 18: Extract

Fig. 19: Herbal Ink from A: Beet vulgaris ,B:Citrus limonene ,C:Pentas lanceolata, D:Bauhinia purpurea
Table 3: Evaluation parameters
Parameter Beet vulgaris ink Citrus limonene Ink Pentas Bauhinia purpurea Ink
lanceolata Ink
Flow ability Freely flowing Freely flowing Freely flowing Freely flowing
Clogging nature Non clogging Non clogging Non clogging Non clogging
Colour Maroon Yellowish Red Purple
Brightness Dark Light Dark Dark
Permanency of colour 3-8 days 3-8 days 3-8 days 3-8 days
Stability Stable Stable Stable Stable
Taste Pleasant and sour Characteristic Aromatic Characteristic
Drying time 7-9 sec 7-10 sec 7-9 sec 7-15 sec
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and filtered till clear solution was obtained. Add 5ml of Biological source: It consists of flower obtained from
alcohol. Red dye obtained was stored in air tight glass plants Bauhinia purpurea of family Caesalpiniaceae.
bottle in a cool place away from sunlight. Materials: Flower-250g, Vinegar 5ml, Water-500ml
Preparation of purple colored ink from Bauhinia purpurea Method: 20 grams of Flower patels was grinded, to this
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500 ml of water was added and boiled for 90mins, then it

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was filtered and concentrated for 45 mins. It was cooled environment, four Herbal Inks have been prepared and the
and filtered till clear solution was obtained. Add 5ml of preparation methods were standardized.
alcohol. Brown colour ink obtained is stored in an air tight
glass container away from sunlight. REFERENCES
RESULT AND DISCUSSION 1. Dr Kipphan H H. Handbook of print media:
Four inks were prepared, maroon colored ink from Beta technologies and production methods, 1, 2,
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from batch to batch than colours produced by natural http://visual.ly/history-ink retrieved January 15, 2014.
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might be a good way to produce unique products with a London, 1980, 630.
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social advantages. In this direction, for betterment of our

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