Question

The colour of buffalo ghee is greenish yellow due to the presence of

• A. Bilirubin and Biliverdin
• B. Carotene
• C. Xanthophyll
• D. Chlorophyll

Hint:

Milk Fat Color Pigments:
Cow Ghee (Golden Yellow) = $\beta$-CAROTENE.
Buffalo Ghee (Greenish Tinge) = BILIRUBIN & BILIVERDIN (Bile pigments) + Chlorophyll derivatives.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Tetrapyrrole bile pigment biochemistry in buffalo milk fat: cow milk fat is golden yellow due to direct dietary $eta$-carotene secretion, whereas buffaloes completely convert $eta$-carotene to retinol, displaying a faint greenish-yellow tinge caused by trace biliverdin/bilirubin and chlorophyll breakdown products.
Key Formula or Approach:
\[ \text{Ghee Pigments: } \text{Cow Ghee} \longleftrightarrow \beta\mathbf{\text{-Carotene}} \quad \mid \quad \text{Buffalo Ghee} \longleftrightarrow \mathbf{Biliverdin \& Bilirubin / Chlorophyll Metabolites} \]

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
In dairy lipid chemistry and ghee manufacture:
1. Cow Milk & Ghee: Cows lack 100% efficient intestinal carotene-dioxygenase cleavage; intact dietary $\beta$-carotene is absorbed directly into milk fat, giving cow ghee its characteristic golden-yellow color.
2. Buffalo Milk & Ghee: Water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) possess active $\beta$-carotene 15,15'-dioxygenase in the intestinal mucosa that completely cleaves dietary carotenoids into colorless Vitamin A (retinol). Consequently, buffalo milk fat is naturally chalky white.
- However, clarified buffalo ghee exhibits a distinctive greenish-yellow greenish tinge attributed to the extraction and concentration of lipid-soluble endogenous bile pigments Biliverdin and Bilirubin (A) along with dietary chlorophyll tetrapyrrole degradation derivatives.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Thus, the greenish-yellow colour of buffalo ghee is due to Bilirubin and Biliverdin, matching option (A).