Proanthocyanidins flavonoids, chemistry

Ferreira A, Slade D and Marais JPJ. 2006. Flavans and proanthocyanidins. In Anderson OM, Markham KR, editors. Flavonoids Chemistry, Biochemistry and Applications. Boca Raton, FL CRC Press/Taylor Francis Group, pp. 553-616. 

D. Ferreira D. Siade J. P. J. Marais, Flavans and Proanthocyanidins. In Flavonoids Chemistry, Biochemistry and Applications] 0. M. Andersen, K. R. Markham, Eds. CRC Press, Taylor Francis Group Boca Raton, FL, 2005 Chapter 11, p553. 

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. 

Jannie P. J. Marais studied at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa where he obtained his Ph.D. in organic chemistry in 2002. His research focused on characterization of the free phenolic profile of South African red wine, and the stereoselective synthesis of flavonoids, for example, flavan-3,4-diols and flavanones. He joined the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi as a postdoctoral associate in July of 2002, where he worked with Dr. Ferreira on the stereoselective synthesis of flavonoid precursors, the semi-synthesis of proanthocyanidin oligomers, characterization of proanthocyanidin profiles of selected transgenic plants, and the synthesis of radioactive antimalarial 8-aminoquinolines. He was promoted to associate research scientist in 2005, where his main area of research still remains the synthesis of A- and B-type proanthocyanidins, starting at the monomeric level and continuing through the tri- and tetra-meric, to the deca-mer level. 

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