What is the purpose of anthocyanins in a plant?

Anthocyanins are a group of polyphenolic pigments that are ubiquitously found in the plant kingdom. In plants, anthocyanins play a role not only in reproduction, by attracting pollinators and seed dispersers, but also in protection against various abiotic and biotic stresses.

What does anthocyanins do in photosynthesis?

The red anthocyanins apparently prevent damage to leaves from intense light energy by absorbing ultraviolet light. There is also evidence that unpalatable compounds are often produced along with anthocyanins, which may be the plant’s way of advertising its toxicity to potential herbivores.

What process does anthocyanin play an important role?

Anthocyanins play important roles in resistance to pathogens, seed dispersal, and protection against ultraviolet radiation8,9,10. They are also beneficial for human health and can protect against certain diseases11,12,13. The enzymes that catalyze anthocyanin biosynthesis function in the flavonoid pathway.

How do anthocyanins protect plants?

Anthocyanins protect leaves from the stress of photoinhibitory light fluxes by absorbing the excess photons that would otherwise be intercepted by chlorophyll b. As leaves senesce, nitrogen associated with their chloroplasts is resorbed into the branches.

Do bananas contain anthocyanins?

Anthocyanins were isolated from male bracts of 10 wild species of bananas (Musa spp. and Ensete spp.) acuminata accessions, which contain almost or all anthocyanin pigments except for pelargonidin-3-rutinoside, including both nonmethylated and methylated anthocyanins.

What plants contain Xanthophyll?

Xanthophylls are found in all young leaves and in etiolated leaves. Examples of other rich sources include papaya, peaches, prunes, and squash, which contain lutein diesters.

Are anthocyanins involved in photosynthesis?

These data indicate that anthocyanins are associated with photosynthesis, but do not serve an auxiliary phytoprotective role. They may serve to protect shade‐adapted chloroplasts from brief exposure to high intensity sunflecks. Quintinia serrata, leaf, anthocyanin, flavonoid, chlorophyll, carotenoid.

What is anthocyanin structure?

Anthocyanins are blue, red, or purple pigments found in plants, especially flowers, fruits, and tubers. Anthocyanin is considered as one of the flavonoids although it has a positive charge at the oxygen atom of the C-ring of basic flavonoid structure. It is also called the flavylium (2-phenylchromenylium) ion.

How is anthocyanin formed?

Anthocyanins belong to a parent class of molecules called flavonoids synthesized via the phenylpropanoid pathway. They occur in all tissues of higher plants, including leaves, stems, roots, flowers, and fruits. Anthocyanins are derived from anthocyanidins by adding sugars. They are odorless and moderately astringent.

Why are anthocyanins good antioxidants?

The Benefits of Anthocyanins Found naturally in a number of foods, anthocyanins are the pigments that give red, purple, and blue plants their rich coloring. In addition to acting as antioxidants and fighting free radicals, anthocyanins may offer anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-cancer benefits.

What plants contain anthocyanins?

Anthocyanins are found in berries, red onions, kidney beans, pomegranates, grapes (including wine), tomatoes, acai, bilberry, chokeberry, elderberry, and tart cherries.

What are the functions of anthocyanins in plants?

Anthocyanins protect plant tissues/organs against many abiotic stressors. Different mechanisms of protection (sunscreen, antioxidant, metal-chelating) have been proposed for anthocyanins. We also explore the possibility that anthocyanins might act to delay senescence in plants facing mineral deficiency.

Are there any anthocyanidins found in vegetative organs?

Although 17 anthocyanidins have been isolated to date, most of these are found only in reproductive structures. Six aglycones (pelargonidin, cyanidin, peonidin, delphinidin, petunidin and malvidin) have been identified in vegetative organs ( Andersen and Jordheim, 2006 ).

What foods have anthocyanins found in them?

Anthocyanins are naturally occurring compounds having member of the flavonoid class of phytochemicals, predominantly found in wines, tea, nuts, fruits, cocoa, cereals, honey, olive oil, vegetables, blackcurrant, red cabbage, red radish, and black carrot.

What are the different colors of anthocyanins?

Anthocyanins usually appear red in leaf cells, but depending on their chemical nature and concentration, the vacuolar pH, and interactions with other pigments, they can result in pink, purple, blue, orange, brown, and even black leaf colours (Schwinn and Davies 2004; Andersen and Jordheim 2006; Hatier and Gould 2007).