Flavone pigments

Kosaku Tadeka and his coworkers achieved major new results in exploring the structure of the cornflower dye (called protocyanin complex) in 2005 four metal ions (one iron, one magnesium, and two calcium ions) were shown to form a complex with 6-6 molecules of other anthocyanin and flavone pigments. In the vacuoles of rose petals, no metals were found. 

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of our present knowledge about the health benehts of pigments, particularly their effects on chronic diseases. We examine the effects of lipophilic (carotenoids, chlorophylls) and hydrophilic pigments (anthocyanins and flavones-flavonols), and curcumin. Descriptive and mechanistic studies are reviewed in regard to common chronic diseases. 

Anthocyanins are colored flavonoids that attract animals when a flower is ready for pollination or a fruit is ready to eat. They are glycosides (i.e., the molecule contains a sugar) that range in color from red, pink, and purple to blue depending on the number and placement of substitutes on the B ring (see Fig. 3.7), the presence of acid residues, and the pH of the cell vacuole where they are stored. Without the sugar these molecules are called anthocyanidins. The color of some pigments results from a complex of different anthocyanin and flavone molecules with metal ions. 

Flavonoids are a complex group of polyphenolic compounds with a basic C6-C3-C6 structure that can be divided in different groups flavonols, flavones, flavanols (or flavan-3-ols), flavanones, anthocyanidins, and isoflavones. More than 6,000 flavonoids are known the most widespread are flavonols, such as quercetin flavones, such as lu-teolin and flavanols (flavan-3-ols), such as catechin. Anthocyanidins are also bioactive flavonoids they are water-soluble vegetable pigments found especially in berries and other red-blue fruits and vegetables. 

Two classes of dimeric anthocyanins isolated from plants (section 10.2.6) have been identified in plants for the first time. One class includes pigments where an anthocyanin and a flavone or flavonol are linked to each end of a dicarboxylic acyl unit. The other class includes four different catechins linked covalently to pelargonidin 3-glucoside. During the last decade, seven new desoxyanthocyanidins and a novel type of anthocyanidin called P)Tanoanthocyanidins have been reported (Section 10.2.2). Toward the end of the 20th century, several color-stable 4-substituted anthocyanins, pyranoanthocyanins, were discovered in small amounts in red wine and grape pomace.Recently, similar compounds have been isolated from extracts of petals of Rosa hybrida cv. M me Violet, scales of red onion, and strawberries. About 94% of the new anthocyanins in the period of this review are based on only six anthocyanidins (Table 10.2). 

The occurrence of the diester structures of the malonic acid moiety in natural anthocyanin pigments has so far been reported in pigments from flowers of Eichhornia crassipes and chive. Allium schoenoprasum, where the anthocyanin-flavone and anthocyanin-flavonol disubstituted malonate structures were exhibited, respectively (Figure 10.8 and Figure 10.9). In some anthocyanins from flowers of Anemone coronaria, malonic acid is esterified with galactose in one end and tartaryl in the other end. ... 

Tamura, FI. et al.. Structures of a succinyl anthocyanin and a malonyl flavone, two constituents of the complex blue pigment of cornflower Centaurea cyanus. Tetrahedron Lett., 24, 5749, 1983. Sulyok, G. and Laszlo-Bencsik, A., Cyanidin 3-(6-succinyl glucoside)-5-glucoside from flowers of seven Centaurea species. Phytochemistry, 24, 1121, 1985. 

Most of the pigments of flowers arise from a single polyketide precursor. Phenylalanine is converted to trans-cinnamic acid (Eq. 14-45) and then to cinnamoyl-CoA. The latter acts as the starter piece for chain elongation via malonyl-CoA (step a in the accompanying scheme). The resulting (3-polyketone derivative can cyclize in two ways. The aldol condensation (step b) leads to stilbenecar-boxylic acid and to such compounds as pinosylvin of pine trees. The Claisen condensation (step c) produces chalcones, flavonones, and flavones. These, in turn, can be converted to the yellow fla-vonol pigments and to the red, purple, and blue anthocyanidins.3 c... 

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