Anthocyanin composition of the fruit of Coriaria myrtifolia L

The anthocyanin composition of the fruit of Coriaria myrtifolia L. and the changes which occur during ripening were studied using HPLC-PAD and LC-MS. Ten anthocyanins were detected and identified by their absorption and mass spectra as the 3-glucoside and 3-galactoside derivatives of delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, peonidin and malvidin. Fruit ripening was accompanied by substantial changes in the anthocyanin profile, with methoxylated anthocyanins, i.e. malvidin and peonidin, predominating in the final stages of ripening, and the trihydroxylated anthocyanin, delphinidin, during the earlier stages. Furthermore, galactoside derivatives were more abundant than glucosides in the ripe fruit. At full maturity, the fruits of C. myrtifolia were very rich in anthocyanins with a content of 10.7% (on a dry weight basis), a level which is higher than that found in most fruits usually considered to be anthocyanin-rich. The ability to grow C. myrtifolia in damaged and nitrogen poor soils, together with the possibility of using this plant for the extraction of anthocyanin, makes it ideal for consolidating soils and repopulating semi-desert or fire-damaged areas.