Question

Greenish tinge of buffalo ghee is due to the presence of

• A. Carotenoids
• B. Riboflavin
• C. Anthocyanin
• D. Biliverdin

Hint:

Ghee Color Pigments:
Cow Ghee (Golden Yellow) $\rightarrow \beta$-CAROTENE.
Buffalo Ghee (Greenish Tinge) $\rightarrow$ BILIVERDIN Chlorophyll derivatives.
Whey (Greenish-Yellow) $\rightarrow$ RIBOFLAVIN.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Pigment biochemistry of bovine vs buffalo milk lipids: cow ghee is golden yellow due to $eta$-carotene, whereas buffalo ghee is creamy white with a characteristic faint greenish-yellow tinge caused by biliverdin chlorophyll metabolites.
Key Formula or Approach:
\[ \text{Ghee Pigmentation: } \underbrace{\text{Cow Ghee (Golden Yellow)}}_{\beta\text{-Carotene}} \quad \longleftrightarrow \quad \underbrace{\mathbf{Buffalo \text{ } Ghee \text{ (Greenish Tinge)}}}_{\mathbf{Biliverdin / Chlorophyll Derivatives}} \]

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
In milk lipid chemistry and indigenous ghee technology:
1. Cow Milk & Ghee: Cows absorb dietary carotenoids intact and secrete them into milk fat, giving cow ghee its characteristic golden yellow color due to $\beta$-Carotene.
2. Buffalo Milk & Ghee: Buffaloes enzymatically convert all dietary $\beta$-carotene in the intestinal mucosa into colorless preformed Vitamin A (retinol). Hence, buffalo milk fat is opaque white.
- However, buffalo ghee often displays a faint, characteristic Greenish Tinge caused by the presence of trace amounts of the green bile pigment Biliverdin (D) (and lipid-soluble chlorophyll breakdown tetrapyrroles/pheophytin ingested during green foraging).

Step 3: Final Answer:
Thus, greenish tinge of buffalo ghee is due to Biliverdin, corresponding to option (D).