Anthocyanins – what the heck are they?
Anthocyanin (anthocyanidins), also known as anthocyanin, is a class of water-soluble natural pigments widely present in plants in nature, is anthocyanin (anthocyains) hydrolysis and get the back of the color. Most of the main coloring substances in fruits, vegetables and flowers are related to it. In the plant cell vesicles under different PH value conditions, anthocyanins make the petals show colorful colors. There are more than 20 known anthocyanins, six of which are important in food, namely geranium pigment, cornflower pigment, delphinium pigment, peony pigment, petunia pigment and mallow pigment. Anthocyanins in their natural state all exist in the form of glycosides called anthocyanins, and very few free anthocyanins exist. Anthocyanins are mainly used in food coloring, but can also be used in dyes, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Types
More than 250 species of anthocyanins are known to exist naturally in plants of 27 families and 73 genera. Currently, 20 anthocyanins have been identified, and six are commonly found in plants, namely, geranium pigment (Pg), cornflower pigment (Cy), delphinium pigment (Dp), paeoniae pigment (Pn), petunia pigment (Pt) and mallow pigment (Mv).
Main Sources
Anthocyanins are widely found in flowering plants (angiosperms), and their content in plants varies greatly according to species, season, climate and maturity. According to preliminary statistics: in 27 families, 73 genera of plants contain anthocyanins, such as purple potatoes, grapes, blood oranges, red cabbage, blueberries, eggplant, cherries, cranberries, strawberries, mulberries, hawthorn, petunias and other plants have a certain content of tissue.
The earliest and richest anthocyanin is grape skin red pigment extracted from red grape pomace, which was marketed in Italy in 1879, and which can be extracted from grape pomace, a waste product of wineries. Elderberries contain large amounts of anthocyanins, all of which are cornflowers, ranging from 200 to 1000 mg per 100 g of fresh weight. anthocyanins are also found in a wide range of food crops such as barley, sorghum, and legumes. Studies have found that grape seed and pine bark extracts have the highest anthocyanin content.
Applications
Antioxidant and free radical scavenging
Anthocyanins are bioflavonoids, and the most important physiological functions of flavonoids are free radical scavenging and antioxidant. Research has proved that anthocyanins are the most effective antioxidant and the most powerful free radical scavenger discovered by mankind today. The antioxidant performance of anthocyanins is 50 times higher than that of VE and 20 times higher than that of VC. Purple sweet potato anthocyanin products have scavenging and inhibiting effects on -OH, H2 O2, and other reactive oxygen species, especially on -OH scavenging ability is stronger than ascorbic acid, and the scavenging effect and the concentration of the dose relationship.
Anti-mutagenic function
The role of anthocyanins not only make plants show colorful colors, but also has the active molecules to reduce enzyme activity, anti-mutagenic and other health functions. Studies have shown that extracts with a certain concentration of anthocyanins can effectively prevent the occurrence of cancer at different stages, but the individual role of anthocyanins is not certain, partly because of the separation of stable components such as other phenolic substances and other bioassays, anthocyanins are prone to degradation.
Application in food
With the development of science and technology, people pay more and more attention to the safety of food additives, the development and utilization of natural additives has become a general trend in the development and use of additives. Anthocyanins can be used in food not only as nutritional enhancers, but also as food preservatives instead of synthetic preservatives such as benzoic acid, and can be used as food coloring agents in common beverages and food, in line with people’s general requirements for food additives that are natural, safe and healthy.
