A method of making a red pigmented composition is disclosed which includes
(a) preparing an aqueous extract of Garcinia indica fruit comprising at
least one red colorant; (b) treating the extract with a cation exchange
resin so that one or more red colorant associates with the resin; (c)
eluting the red colorant from the resin with an eluting solution
containing one or more alcohol such as methanol, ethanol and isopropanol
and one or more acid such as hydrochloric acid, citric acid, acetic acid,
tartaric acid and hydroxy citric acid to yield a red-colored eluate; (d)
collecting and concentrating the eluate to provide a concentrate; and (e)
adding an antioxidant agent and/or placing the concentrate in an aseptic
container in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. A combination comprising the
resulting stabilized Garcinia extract in aseptic packaging in a
non-oxidizing atmosphere is also disclosed, along with methods of use.