anthocyanin

Scope note: Water-soluble glycosides comprising pigments occurring in all tissues of higher plants, including leaves, stems, roots, flowers, and fruits. They appear red, purple, or blue depending on the pH. They are used as pH indicators and pigment for art. As lake pigments, they are unstable and insoluble. Examples include pelargonidin, cyanidin, peonidin, delphinidin, petunidin, and malvidin, derived from myrtle berries, blackberries, peonies, delphinium, petunia, elderberry, and other sources. They are odorless, nearly flavorless, but moderately astringent to taste. For the plant, they are used to attract pollinators or seed-dispersing animals; they may perform a function complementary to that of green chlorophyll in photosynthetically active tissues. Natural organic coloring compounds, notably the red coloring of buds and young shoots and the purple and purple-red colors of autumn leaves, which only becomes apparent when the green chlorophyll decomposes with the approach of winter. Anthocyanin pigment for art and other uses is derived from seeds and flowers, for example myrtle berries, blackberries, peonies, delphinium, petunia, and elderberry. These compounds do not form stable insoluble lake pigments. They are water soluble glycosides, red, blue, or violet in color. Examples include pelargonidin, cyanidin, peonidin, delphinidin, petunidin, and malvidin.

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