What are vegetable dyes

Plant dyes are colored substances extracted from plants that do not fade in color over time. Pigments are commonly found in plants, such as carotenoids and chlorophyll. In flowers and fruits, the bright colors make it easy to detect the presence of these pigments, but there are some important plant dyes that are not so remarkable. For example, they may be chemicals in the bark that are so complex in structure that they must be used as mordants to develop color. Most vegetable pigments decompose and disappear easily, and only those that are durable and not oxidized can be used as dyes. In ancient times, vegetable dyes have played an important role in everything from clothing and food to tools, artwork, and even human devices.