Anthocyanins: from plant to health

Anthocyanins are a group of natural occurring pigments responsible for the red-blue colour of many fruits and vegetables. Anthocyanins are of interest for two reasons because they cannot only be used in the technological field as natural colorants but also have important implications in the field of human health. Numerous studies indicate the potential effect that this family of flavonoids may have in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease, cancer, hyperlipidemias and other chronic diseases through the intake of anthocyanin-rich foods. This review examines existing literature in this area: from plant content and distribution to health implications, including the effect of agronomic and genetic modifications on the anthocyanin content of plants as well as other biotechnological factors and food processing. The bioavailability, metabolism, bioactivity, and epidemiology of anthocyanins will also be reviewed.     

紫黑米种质功能成分综合研究与利用

紫黑米富含花青素、黄酮、多酚等功能成分,着重介绍了花青素等功能成分的含量差异及其影响因素、功能研究、基于代谢机理与育种及食品加工工艺的功能成分强化研究、功能成分的利用及提取工艺等领域的研究进展。针对国内外紫黑米功能成分综合研究利用进展,提出紫黑米的育种利用、食品保健、医药研发和分子机理研究及其新型功能食品研制与产业化对策,以期为紫黑米相关研究提供参考。     

Study and characterization of a novel functional food: purple popcorn

Many phytonutrients seem to be able to combat the effects of oxidants which may lead to chronic diseases. Among them, anthocyanins have been studied for a long time, and different types of functional foods rich in these pigments are already available on the market. In particular, wine, berries and various cereals have already aroused consumers’ awareness, and in this context we propose a new and attractive healthy food: purple popcorn. Popcorn is the most popular American snack, now well known all over the world. A corn rich in anthocyanins, suitable to be transformed into a snack, could help to introduce healthy antioxidant compounds into the diet of many people, contributing to the prevention of chronic diseases. In this work we developed a coloured popcorn variety rich in anthocyanins (about 66 mg/100 g, mainly cyanidin) by a recurrent selection scheme, with the aim of obtaining a healthier snack. The selection was based on some quality characteristics such as anthocyanin content, popping ability and the popping expansion volume. The purple popcorn obtained was further analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging ability, before and after microwave treatment. The results obtained showed that, even though the microwave treatment reduced the anthocyanin content to about 46 %, the remaining anthocyanins exhibited a marked antioxidant capacity compared to the colourless control. Finally taste perception was also checked between coloured and uncoloured popcorn, and no difference was perceived.     

蓝莓的成分与保健功能的研究进展

越橘属蓝莓含有花青苷（花青素或酚配基,与糖的结合体）。紫檀芪、鞣花酸、超氧化物歧化酶、熊果酸、酚酸及不同维生素等生物活性成分。很早就报道蓝莓所含花青苷可加速视紫素的再生而有益于视力及眼部健康。近年的研究显示蓝莓具有抗氧化作用,预防癌症、降血脂、降胆固醇、增强记忆、抗衰老、增强人体免疫、保护视力、抗糖尿病等保健功能。因此蓝莓被认为是最有营养的食物之一。     

A carnation anthocyanin mutant is complemented by the glutathione<Emphasis Type="Italic"> S</Emphasis>-transferases encoded by maize<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Bz2</Emphasis> and petunia<Emphasis Type="Italic"> An9</Emphasis>

Particle bombardment was used to elucidate the function of Flavonoid3, a late-acting anthocyanin gene of the ornamental plant, carnation ( Dianthus caryophyllus L.). The fl3 mutation conditions dilute anthocyanin coloration that closely resembles phenotypes produced by the anthocyanin mutants bz2 of maize and an9 of petunia. Bz2 and An9 encode glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) involved in vacuolar sequestration of anthocyanins. Constructs containing either of these or another late-function maize gene, Bronze1 (UDPglucose:flavonol 3- O-glucosyltransferase), were introduced via microprojectile bombardment into fl3 petals. Complementation resulted only from Bz2 and An9, indicating that Fl3 encodes a GST involved in the transport of anthocyanins to the vacuole. The observed result in carnation, an angiosperm phylogenetically distant from maize and petunia, indicates that GST activity might be a universal step in the anthocyanin pathway. Microprojectile bombardment was used to identify late-pathway anthocyanin mutations, which may be responsible for the pale anthocyanin coloration of important cultivars in many species but which can be difficult to characterize by other means.     

Anthocyanins protect against DNA damage induced by tert-butyl-hydroperoxide in rat smooth muscle and hepatoma cells

Anthocyanins are flavonoids present in a variety of pigmented food and, like other flavonoids, seem to play a role in preventing human pathologies related to oxidative stress. In fact, anthocyanins have been shown to exert antiproliferative effects in cell cultures and exhibit antiinflammatory and vasoprotective activities in animal models. Although these biological activities have been related to their antioxidant properties, little is known on the molecular mechanism of action of anthocyanins. The effects of pretreatment with the anthocyanins delphinidin, cyanidin, and their glycoside and rutinoside derivatives against induction of DNA damage induced by tert-butyl-hydroperoxide (TBHP) were evaluated in rat smooth muscle and in rat hepatoma cell lines using alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet test). In addition, a possible protection exerted by anthocyanins on cell killing, lipid peroxidation, and redox state alterations induced by TBHP was also investigated. It was found that the treatment with TBHP induces the formation of DNA single strand breaks (SSB) and oxidised bases, along with cell killing, lipid peroxidation and redox state alteration. Our data demonstrate that anthocyanins are effective against cytotoxicity, DNA SSB formation and lipid peroxidation induced by TBHP, but they do not have any detectable effect against impairment by TBHP of cellular redox state and on protection against DNA bases oxidation. The presence of a sugar moiety in anthocyanin derivatives reduced this protective effect, mainly in rat hepatoma cells. The different activity of anthocyanins and their derivatives may be explained taking into account a structure/function relationship that could also influence anthocyanin intracellular localisation.     

Analysis and biological activities of anthocyanins

Anthocyanins are naturally occurring compounds that impart color to fruits, vegetables, and plants. They are probably the most important group of visible plant pigments besides chlorophyll. Apart from imparting color to plants, anthocyanins also have an array of health-promoting benefits, as they can protect against a variety of oxidants through a various number of mechanisms. However, anthocyanins have received less attention than other flavonoids, despite this. This article reviews their biological functions and pre-clinical studies, as well as the most recent analytical techniques concerning anthocyanin isolation and identification.     

菊花不同花色品种中花青素苷代谢分析

应用高效液相色谱和多级质谱联用技术（HPLC-ESI-MSn）,分析菊花（Chrysanthemum×morifolium）白色、粉色、红色、紫色、红紫色和墨色6个色系共计82个品种中花青素苷合成过程的中间产物和最终产物,发现从白色、粉色、红色、紫色、红紫色到墨色花青素苷含量快速增加,分别为4.68、111.60、366.89、543.56、1220.36和2674.95μg·g-1,不同色系间花青素苷的含量差异显著（P〈0.01）,花青素苷含量越高花色越深;墨色菊花品种中总类黄酮含量显著高于其它花色品种（P〈0.01）,其它不同色系间总类黄酮含量差异不显著（P〉0.05）;随着菊花花色变深,从柚皮素分支到圣草酚的代谢流,以及从圣草酚分支到矢车菊素苷的代谢流比例增加。花青素苷成分分析发现：菊花中只含有矢车菊素苷类化合物。根据花青素苷代谢成分分析结果绘制了菊花中花青素苷代谢路径图,即在菊花类黄酮代谢途径中只存在矢车菊素苷代谢分支途径;菊花不同色系在柚皮素和圣草酚2个关键代谢分支点上向不同方向代谢流的分配比例不同,造成花青素苷产物含量不同,导致不同花色。以上研究结果为菊花花色改良的分子育种提供了理论依据。     

Expression of genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis in relation to anthocyanin,proanthocyanidin, and flavonol levels during bilberry fruit development

The production of anthocyanins in fruit tissues is highly controlled at the developmental level. We have studied the expression of flavonoid biosynthesis genes during the development of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) fruit in relation to the accumulation of anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, and flavonols in wild berries and in color mutants of bilberry. The cDNA fragments of five genes from the flavonoid pathway, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, chalcone synthase, flavanone 3-hydroxylase, dihydroflavonol 4-reductase, and anthocyanidin synthase, were isolated from bilberry using the polymerase chain reaction technique, sequenced, and labeled with a digoxigenin-dUTP label. These homologous probes were used for determining the expression of the flavonoid pathway genes in bilberries. The contents of anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, and flavonols in ripening bilberries were analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector and were identified using a mass spectrometry interface. Our results demonstrate a correlation between anthocyanin accumulation and expression of the flavonoid pathway genes during the ripening of berries. At the early stages of berry development, procyanidins and quercetin were the major flavonoids, but the levels decreased dramatically during the progress of ripening. During the later stages of ripening, the content of anthocyanins increased strongly and they were the major flavonoids in the ripe berry. The expression of flavonoid pathway genes in the color mutants of bilberry was reduced. A connection between flavonol and anthocyanin synthesis in bilberry was detected in this study and also in previous data collected from flavonol and anthocyanin analyses from other fruits. In accordance with this, models for the connection between flavonol and anthocyanin syntheses in fruit tissues are presented.     

Consumption of flavonoid-rich foods and increased plasma antioxidant capacity in humans: cause, consequence, or epiphenomenon?

Increased fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with a decreased incidence of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and other chronic diseases. The beneficial health effects of fruits and vegetables have been attributed, in part, to antioxidant flavonoids present in these foods. Large, transient increases in the total antioxidant capacity of plasma have often been observed after the consumption of flavonoid-rich foods by humans. These observations led to the hypothesis that dietary flavonoids play a significant role as antioxidants in vivo, thereby reducing chronic disease risk. This notion, however, has been challenged recently by studies on the bioavailability of flavonoids, which indicate that they reach only very low concentrations in human plasma after the consumption of flavonoid-rich foods. In addition, most flavonoids are extensively metabolized in vivo, which can affect their antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, fruits and vegetables contain many macro- and micronutrients, in addition to flavonoids, that may directly or through their metabolism affect the total antioxidant capacity of plasma. In this article, we critically review the published research in this field with the goal to assess the contribution of dietary flavonoids to the total antioxidant capacity of plasma in humans. We conclude that the large increase in plasma total antioxidant capacity observed after the consumption of flavonoid-rich foods is not caused by the flavonoids themselves, but is likely the consequence of increased uric acid levels.     

植物花青素苷转运机制的研究进展

花青素苷的合成过程是生物学上研究得较为清楚的代谢通路之一,但其最后阶段的分子机制即花青素苷从细胞质被转运至中央液泡的过程却仍不清晰。最近研究者们刚刚开始对类黄酮化合物的转运过程进行动态的描绘,迄今共提出了4种花青素苷转运模型,发现了4类与花青素苷转运过程相关的转运蛋白:谷胱甘肽转移酶、多药耐药抗性相关蛋白、多药和有毒化合物排出家族和同源于哺乳动物的胆红素易位酶同族体,并对这4种转运体及相关基因的功能进行了初步研究。尽管已经提出了不同的花青素苷转运模型,但仍然缺乏对不同物种不同类型花青素苷向液泡转运及在液泡中沉积的细胞学和亚细胞学研究。根据获得的信息,可以通过开展基因序列分析、基因表达分析、亚细胞定位和互补试验等,探求转运蛋白的功能及其作用位置,更好地解析植物体内花青素苷的转运机制。     

菊花不同花色品种中花青素苷代谢分析

应用高效液相色谱和多级质谱联用技术(HPLC-ESI-MSⁿ), 分析菊花(Chrysanthemum × morifolium)白色、粉色、红色、紫色、红紫色和墨色6个色系共计82个品种中花青素苷合成过程的中间产物和最终产物, 发现从白色、粉色、红色、紫色、红紫色到墨色花青素苷含量快速增加, 分别为4.68、111.60、366.89、543.56、1 220.36和2 674.95 μg·g^–1, 不同色系间花青素苷的含量差异显著(P<0.01), 花青素苷含量越高花色越深; 墨色菊花品种中总类黄酮含量显著高于其它花色品种(P<0.01), 其它不同色系间总类黄酮含量差异不显著(P>0.05); 随着菊花花色变深, 从柚皮素分支到圣草酚的代谢流, 以及从圣草酚分支到矢车菊素苷的代谢流比例增加。花青素苷成分分析发现: 菊花中只含有矢车菊素苷类化合物。根据花青素苷代谢成分分析结果绘制了菊花中花青素苷代谢路径图, 即在菊花类黄酮代谢途径中只存在矢车菊素苷代谢分支途径;菊花不同色系在柚皮素和圣草酚2个关键代谢分支点上向不同方向代谢流的分配比例不同, 造成花青素苷产物含量不同,导致不同花色。以上研究结果为菊花花色改良的分子育种提供了理论依据。     

Anthocyanin Profiles in Grape Berry Skins of Different Species of Wine Grapes in Shanxi,China

To understand the anthocyanin characteristics of wine grape varieties, the anthocyanin composition and content of 31 wine grape varieties were analyzed to explore the use of anthocyanins as chemical fingerprints to distinguish varieties. Results showed that a total of 21 anthocyanins were detected in the skins, including cyanidin, delphinidin, petunidin, peonidin and malvidin 3-monoglucosides (or 3,5-diglucosides) along with the corresponding acetyl and p-coumaroyl derivatives. The highest and lowest total amount of anthocyanins were detected in ‘Ruby Cabernet’ and ‘Muscat Rouge’, respectively. In the 21 Vitis vinifera grapes, there were 3~11 monoglucoside anthocyanins detected, however, there were 4 to 9 monoglucoside anthocyanins and 1~7 diglucoside anthocyanins detected in the 10 other species of grapes. Except for ‘Zhesexiang’ ‘Seibel Noir’, ‘44-6-7-1’ and ‘Beibinghong’, the contents of diglucoside anthocyanins in the other six varieties accounted for more than 52% of the total anthocyanins. Except for ‘Zhesexiang’, ‘Muscat Rouge’ and ‘Beibinghong’, the content of methylated anthocyanins accounted for more than 75% of total anthocyanins. There were significant differences in the anthocyanin types and contents in the skins among V. vinifera and other grapes. The results of the principal component analysis and the cluster classification of 31 grape varieties (lines) were nearly consistent, which suggested that anthocyanins can be used as chemical fingerprints to distinguish wine grape varieties.     

MATE2 mediates vacuolar sequestration of flavonoid glycosides and glycoside malonates in Medicago truncatula

The majority of flavonoids, such as anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, and isoflavones, are stored in the central vacuole, but the molecular basis of flavonoid transport is still poorly understood. Here, we report the functional characterization of a multidrug and toxin extrusion transporter (MATE2), from Medicago truncatula. MATE 2 is expressed primarily in leaves and flowers. Despite its high similarity to the epicatechin 3'-O-glucoside transporter MATE1, MATE2 cannot efficiently transport proanthocyanidin precursors. In contrast, MATE2 shows higher transport capacity for anthocyanins and lower efficiency for other flavonoid glycosides. Three malonyltransferases that are coexpressed with MATE2 were identified. The malonylated flavonoid glucosides generated by these malonyltransferases are more efficiently taken up into MATE2-containing membrane vesicles than are the parent glycosides. Malonylation increases both the affinity and transport efficiency of flavonoid glucosides for uptake by MATE2. Genetic loss of MATE2 function leads to the disappearance of leaf anthocyanin pigmentation and pale flower color as a result of drastic decreases in the levels of various flavonoids. However, some flavonoid glycoside malonates accumulate to higher levels in MATE2 knockouts than in wild-type controls. Deletion of MATE2 increases seed proanthocyanidin biosynthesis, presumably via redirection of metabolic flux from anthocyanin storage.     

粳稻龙锦1号/香软米1578杂交组合F_5家系群糙米总花色苷含量变异及相关性分析

随着环境污染加剧和人们对自身健康关注度的提高,功能性食品在全球范围内蓬勃发展。彩色稻米作为稻米家族中的一员,由于富含微量元素、花色苷、生物碱等功能性成分,已成为当前功能性食品研究开发的热点之一。本研究利用粳稻品种龙锦1号/香软米1578杂交组合214个F_5家系,对水稻糙米总花色苷含量、粒色等级和千粒重的变异及其相关性进行了分析。糙米粒色等级变异范围为1~9,平均值为4.98,变异系数为57.87%;糙米总花色苷含量变异范围为0~5459.34 mg/kg,平均值为834.47 mg/kg,变异系数为191.96%;糙米千粒重变异范围为11.96~26.24 g,平均值为17.75 g,变异系数为12.89%。糙米总花色苷含量、粒色等级和千粒重在F5家系中不符合正态分布,表现为右偏态,其中糙米总花色苷含量的偏斜程度最大。糙米总花色苷含量和千粒重的峰度系数为正值,表明为尖顶峰;而糙米粒色等级的峰度系数为负值,表明为平顶峰。糙米总花色苷含量与粒色等级呈极显著正相关,相关系数为0.69;糙米总花色苷含量、粒色等级均与千粒重呈极显著负相关,相关系数分别为-0.20和-0.34。与高亲龙锦1号相比,27个家系的糙米总花色苷含量极显著提高,占214个F_5家系的12.62%,为高花色苷水稻种质创新奠定了基础。     

Irrigation of Solanum lycopersicum L. with magnetically treated water increases antioxidant properties of its tomato fruits

Antioxidant effects of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) have been studied and an association between dietary intake of tomatoes and lowered risk of cancer, neurodegenerative, and cardiovascular diseases has been suggested. Here we used magnetically treated water (MTW; 0.03–0.15 T), which promotes better germination and productivity in tomatoes, and we investigated the effects of aqueous and ethanolic (10–400 μg/ml) extracts of S. lycopersicum as potential antioxidant against 10 μM Fe(II)-induced thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) in liver and brain homogenates from rats. The ethanolic extracts from magnetically treated plants were more effective than aqueous extracts in preventing TBARS formation in brain and liver. The protective effects of ethanolic extract can be associated with antioxidants (polyphenols and flavonoids), lycopene and other lipophilic components found in the extract. In effect, magnetically treated plants had higher content of polyphenolic and flavonoid compounds than nontreated plants and they can be a better source of antioxidants than nontreated plants. Consequently, MTW can be used to produce functional foods with high contents of antioxidant components and may have better beneficial health effects than traditionally produced foods.     

5种野牡丹属植物花色素成分及影响花色呈色因子分析

为明确野牡丹属(Melastoma L.)植物花瓣的色素成分和呈色机理,为花色育种提供参考。以野牡丹(M.candidum)、白花野牡丹(M.candidum f.albiflorum)、印度野牡丹(M.malabathiricum)、白花印度野牡丹(M. malabathricumvar.alba)、毛稔(M.sanguinrum)5种野牡丹属植物材料,采用目测法、RHSCC比色法和色差仪测定花瓣表型,应用化学显色法、紫外分光光度法对花色素成分及含量进行初步分析与测定,通过徒手切片组织切片法观察花瓣表皮细胞的显微结构和分布特点,测定花瓣pH值、可溶性糖及可溶性蛋白含量等生理指标分析对花色的影响。结果显示,野牡丹属植物花瓣不含叶绿素和类胡萝卜素,紫罗兰色系主要含花青素苷和黄酮类化合物,白色系主要含黄酮类化合物。野牡丹和毛稔花色素分布于上、下表皮,印度野牡丹花色素分布于上、下表皮和栅栏组织,白花野牡丹和白花印度野牡丹花瓣没有发现色素积累;紫罗兰色系野牡丹上表皮细胞呈圆锥形突起,白色系野牡丹上表皮细胞呈不规则的扁平状,它们下表皮细胞全呈不规则的扁平状。野牡丹属植物花色明度L*随花瓣颜色变深而降低,明度L*与红度a*呈极显著负相关、与蓝度b*呈极显著的正相关。花瓣中花青素苷含量与其明度L*和蓝度b*呈显著负相关,pH值与花瓣红度a*呈现显著的负相关。研究表明,野牡丹属植物花色主要由花青素苷决定,花青素苷含量、色素分布、上表皮细胞形状等是引起花色呈现多样的主要因子。