抄録
It seems quite certain that Rubiaceae roots are one of the oldest plants used as dye material both in Europe and in the Orient. However there are some noticeable differences between madder and AKANE. Such differences, which are made by the difference in the chemical composition, are especially notable in the color on the dyed cloth, namely the madder makes real red color, whereas Japanese AKANE produces orange but never red color.
We have determined that Chinese AKANE contains predominantly purpurin and munjistin. Based upon the chemical analyses, four kinds of plant, madder, Indian madder, Chinese and Japanese AKANE were used respectively to dye silk sample cloths. The cloths dyed with the madder extracts showed red color as expressed by C.I.E. color formula and are very resistant to the sunlight and also to washing in comparison with those dyed with AKANE roots.
It seems that these differences in dyeing properties attribute to pseudopurpurin and alizarin found in madder roots but not in AKANE.
