Pigments from anthocyanins varieties

The power of superfruits exists mainly in their established natural nutrients but also is exhibited in other natural compounds, called phytochemicals. Among nature s astounding variety, phytochemicals comprise thousands of different compounds, including the pigments that give fruits their bright colors. Think of the wonderful red luster of a fresh strawberry that crimson color comes from phytochemical pigments called anthocyanins, which hold potential value for health. 

The synthesis of pigments derived from anthocyanins in wines made from the Graciano, Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties. 

Compared with other red fruits, the concentration of anthocyanins in pear peels is distinctly lower, ranging from 50 to 100 mg/kg of fresh weight. Pigments of red varieties of pears are derived mainly from cyanidin (unlike in apples, anthocyanidins of pears are not acylated by phenolic acids). The main pigments are cyanidin-3-galactoside, cyanidin-3-arabinoside and 3-rutinoside, in some cultivars peonidin-3-galactoside is also found. 

Eichhorn, S., Winterhalter, P. (2005). Anthocyanins from pigmented potato Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties. Food Res. Int., 38, 943-948. 

The anthocyanin pigments of native and hybrid varieties have been studied extensively. Much of the impetus for this work came from efforts to detect the addition of hybrid wine to vinifera wine in Europe and, conversely, the addition of vinifera grape concentrate to Concord concentrate, juice, and other grape products (48,49) in the United States. 

Figure 5-5. A. MALDI mass spectrum of the anthocyanin pigments in the grape variety Marechal Foch. This figure is from the article Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry analysis of grape anthocyanins , Am. J. Enol. Vitic. 50 199-203 by Sugui, J. A., Wood, K. V., Yang, Z., Bonham, C. C. and Nicholson, R. L. 1999. Reprinted by permission of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture. B. MALDI mass spectrum of grape anthocyanins acquired on a MALDI mass spectrometer with delayed extraction capabilities. Peak identities are discussed in the text.

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