Anthocyanins

Anthocyanins are antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables that are red, purple, or blue. They are members of the flavonoid family, which includes the antioxidants found in wine, tea, and dark chocolate. Flavonoids are antioxidants that are part of a broader group known as polyphenols, which are thought to help prevent or treat health issues associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. Cancer, heart disease, and age-related mental illnesses are among these conditions.

Anthocyanin-containing foods have been utilised in traditional cures for decades. Studies are increasingly supporting its alleged health benefits. Plant-derived anthocyanins are also extensively utilised as dyes, natural food colourants, and culinary additives. For example, the commercial addition E163 is derived from grape skin and is often used to provide a purple colour to jam, candies, and beverages.

Synthesis of Anthocyanins

The anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway is a branch of the overall flavonoid pathway that begins with the chalcone synthase (CHS)-mediated synthesis of naringenin chalcone from 4-coumaroyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA.

Functions of Anthocyanins

Anthocyanins are a type of polyphenolic pigment found throughout the plant kingdom. Anthocyanins in plants not only aid in reproduction by attracting pollinators and seed dispersers, but they also defend against a variety of abiotic and biotic challenges.

The process by which plants convert carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight into oxygen and energy in the form of sugar is known as photosynthesis. Autotrophic plants produce their own food through a process called photosynthesis. Sunlight, chlorophyll, CO₂, and water are four crucial components needed for this process. The two steps of photosynthesis are the Light Reaction and the Dark Reaction.

• Light reaction: The initial stage of photosynthesis is the light reaction, in which solar energy is transformed into chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH. Protein complexes and pigment molecules both contribute to the synthesis of NADPH and ATP.
• Dark reaction: The dark reaction is also known as the carbon-fixing process. It is a light-independent mechanism that produces sugar molecules from carbon dioxide and water molecules. The dark reaction takes place in the stroma of the chloroplast, where the products of the light reaction are used.