Functionality of Anthocyanins

Anthocyanins are a class of flavonoids separated from proanthocyani-dins. Anthocyanins have been known to be highly protective and therapeutic against especially age-related diseases such as hypertension, cardiac infraction and cerebral infarction. Additionally, because the colors of anthocyanins could help to ease psychic and physical troubles or tiredness, the anthocyanins could not only relax us, but also the colors themselves could prevent and remedy many diseases, especially, age-related diseases such as hypertension, heart failure, stroke and diabetes. Generally, anthocyanins have antioxidant properties, which could protect and enhance our body systems with bioactive abilities such as the immuno-, anticancer-, antimicrobial potencies and others. 

Anthocyanins have been used as part of therapeutic herbal folklore medicines with the phy to chemicals, because actually, bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) in Europe has been used to improve menstruation. During World War II, bilberry was also used to enhance the night vision of UK pilots. 

Anthocyanins are composed of anthocyanidines and their sugar molecules. Anthocyanins are one of the most typical phy to chemicals in the pigments of the plant kingdom with various colors such as carotenoids. Surprisingly, the anthocyanins of over 150 flavonoids are highly antioxidative. To date, it is thought that more than 4000 flavonoids have been identified [7]. 

Very recently, we reviewed the role of membrane action of flavonoids. The structure of flavonoids enables specific interactions with different membrane proteins (multidrug transporters, voltage-gated and chemically activated ion channels) and also nonspecific interactions with the lipid phase of membranes [8]. 

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Quantitative and qualitative anthocyanin composition must be known in order to determine the feasibility of application of new plant materials as anthocyanin-based colorant sources and to understand the relationships of structures and functions of anthocyanins. In addition, anthocyanin compositions of fruits and vegetables have also been used to detect adulteration of anthocyanin-based products - and as indicators of product quality. - ... 

The photoprotection hypothesis for anthocyanins is attractive because it can explain why red-leafed plants occur across such diverse environments. In the tropics, for example, anthocyanins in flushing red leaves may provide a critical photoprotective role to the nascent chloroplasts until adequate levels of xanthophylls have been synthesized. In the understorey, anthocyanins might protect shade-acclimated plants from the effects of sunflecks, which can be 2000-fold brighter than the usual light level, or canopy gaps caused by tree blowdown. A photoprotective function of anthocyanins would also benefit leaves in... 

One of the best-established functions of anthocyanins is in the production of flower color and the provision of colors attractive to plant pollinators. Considerable effort has been made to give explanations for the color variations expressed by anthocyanins in plants. Various factors including concentration and nature of the anthocyanidin, anthocyanidin equilibrium forms, the extent of anthocyanin glycosidation and acylation, the nature and concentration of copigmentation, metal complexes, intra- and intermolecular association mechanisms, and influence of external factors like pH, salts, etc. have been found to have impact on anthocyanin colors. ... 

The first chapter, Functionality of Anthocyanins as Alternative Medicine by Noboru Motohashi and Hiroshi Sakagami, presents their antioxidant mechanism for anthocyanidins, which are present in common foods. It is possible that anthocyanins may have been used both preventatively and clinically as part of many folklore medicines worldwide and may have provided healthcare benefits since the appearance of mankind some 7.5 million years ago. The review will inform the reader as to their functionality and mechanism. 

Anthocyanins are a proanthocyanidin-type of flavonoid distributed in various fruits. These anthocyanins are the most important visible plant pigments in the natural kingdom. Anthocyanins have been clinically used in many folklore medicines worldwide for the treatment of age-related diseases and other disease. This review presents the functionality of anthocyanins in relation to their chemistry, synthetic pathway, antioxidant activity, antitumor activity (including apoptosis-inducing activity), pharmacodynamics (absorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion) and toxicity, and discusses their possible use as food and dietary supplements and usage in potential nutraceuticals. 

There is no consensus as to the primary function of anthocyanins in leaves. Several authors have attempted unified explanations for foliar anthocyanins these include... 

In spite of this genetic evidence, implying an evolutionary conserved role of sequence-divergent GSTs in anthocyanin transport (Alfenito et al., 1998 Larsen et al, 2003), the biochemical function of anthocyanin-related GSTs remains obscure, most importantly because neither Bz2 nor An9 catalyze the fonnation of an anthocy-anin-conjugate with GSH (Mueller et al, 2000). In contrast, tran -cinnamic acid and some derivatives had been shown to be capable of the... 

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