| We've been reading a lot in magazines and | | | | nature's efficient way of symbiosis between a |
| newspapers about antioxidant plant foods, | | | | plant and feeding animal. |
| including berries like blueberries and cranberries, | | | | Anthocyanins also serve a protective role much |
| and we keep seeing the word anthocyanins. | | | | like a "sunscreen" by absorbing the ultraviolet light |
| What are anthocyanins? | | | | that plants face from constant sun exposure. |
| Anthocyanins (Etymology: Greek. anthos = Flower, | | | | This "sunscreen" function is thought to be the |
| kyáneos = purple) are water-soluble pigments | | | | reason why many deciduous plants turn red in |
| reflecting the red to blue range of the visible | | | | autumn. When green chlorophylls break down, and |
| spectrum. The colour depends on the acidity of | | | | as leaves begin to dehydrate and die, |
| the surrounding medium. | | | | anthocyanins shield the remaining leaf tissues while |
| Anthocyanins exist only in plants with bright colors | | | | the plant moves nutrients back into the stems |
| in everything from flower petals to autumn leaves | | | | and vascular system of the tree. |
| and edible fruits or vegetables. Chemical | | | | How do people benefit from anthocyanins and |
| identification studies reveal that there are as | | | | what plant foods contain them? |
| many as 600 unique anthocyanins in nature. | | | | In berry research particularly, anthocyanins have |
| How are anthocyanins synthesized in the plant? | | | | been shown to possess strong antioxidant |
| Here's a brief botany summary. Anthocyanins are | | | | qualities that guard cells of the fruit pulp and |
| formed from chemical raw materials in the plant, | | | | seeds from reactive oxygen species ("free |
| using the amino acid phenylalanine, or another | | | | radicals") formed during normal plant metabolism |
| chemical called malonyl coenzyme A. These two | | | | and exposure to ultraviolet light. |
| substrates join to form the base material for | | | | When people eat anthocyanin-rich foods, we |
| anthocyanins called "chalcones" that lead to the | | | | obtain the benefit of these antioxidant qualities, |
| production of anthocyanins after a series of | | | | giving us the same capacity for combating the |
| enzyme steps. | | | | damaging free radicals. |
| The parent material of anthocyanins is a group of | | | | Among plant foods providing the richest sources |
| similar structures named "anthocyanidins" or | | | | of anthocyanins are blueberries, cranberries, |
| "proanthocyanidins" which contain no sugar | | | | blackberries, red currants and cherries (up to 400 |
| molecules. When sugars become attached, an | | | | mg in every 100 gram serving) and Concord |
| anthocyanin glycoside is formed, taking the | | | | grapes (as high as 750 mg/100 grams). Two of |
| characteristic shape of anthocyanins. | | | | the richest sources of anthocyanins in berries are |
| When first isolated by chemists, many | | | | in the black raspberry and tropical palmberry (or |
| anthocyanins were named after the colorful | | | | acai). |
| flowers from which they were extracted, such as | | | | A good rule of thumb is this: dark blue, purple or |
| petunidin (petunia), rosinidin (rose) and peonidin | | | | black fruits that easily stain your fingers (or |
| (peonies). | | | | thumb) during picking are great sources of |
| The large class of antioxidant cyanidins is also | | | | anthocyanins. |
| anthocyanins – all these compounds belong to | | | | Non-berry plant foods rich in anthocyanins include |
| the group of compounds called flavonoids within | | | | brightly colored (bluish) vegetables like the purple |
| the super-family of antioxidants named phenolics | | | | cabbage and eggplant. White plant foods like |
| or polyphenols. | | | | banana, pear and potato do not contain significant |
| What is the purpose of anthocyanins in a plant? | | | | levels of anthocyanins. |
| Anthocyanins exist mainly to preserve the | | | | Are there known health values of eating |
| regeneration of the plant. In flowers, the colorful | | | | anthocyanin-rich foods? |
| anthocyanins of petals attract pollinators whereas | | | | Medical research has been examining potential |
| in fruits, like brightly colored berries, they reside in | | | | health or anti-disease benefits of having |
| the skin to attract animals that eat the fruit and | | | | anthocyanin-enriched plant foods like berries |
| later disperse the seeds in their droppings. This is | | | | included in the regular human diet. |