What is a Flavylium cation?

The flavylium cation is a chromenylium cation with a phenyl group substituted in position 2; and chromenylium (also called benzopyrylium) is a bicyclic version of pyrylium. The positive charge can move around the molecule.

What is Flavilium?

Flavylium compounds are versatile molecules that comprise anthocyanins , the ubiquitous colorants used by Nature to confer colour to most flowers and fruits.

What is the chemical formula for anthocyanin?

The empirical formula for flavylium ion of anthocyanin is C15H11O+ with a molecular weight of 207.24724 g/mol. On the other hand, anthocyanins are the glycosylated form of anthocyanidins. The conjugated bonds of anthocyanins result in red, blue, and purple-colored plants.

What are anthocyanins and what is their function?

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 is the difference between anthocyanin and Anthocyanidin?

Anthocyanin and anthocyanidin are two types of red-blue plant flavonoids, mostly found in flowers and fruits of higher plants. The main difference between anthocyanin and anthocyanidin is that anthocyanin is a water-soluble vacuolar pigment whereas anthocyanidin is the sugar-free counterpart of anthocyanin.

Why are anthocyanins good antioxidants?

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.

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.

How is anthocyanin produced?

Anthocyanins are water-soluble pigments produced via the flavonoid pathway in the cytoplasm of the colored plant cell. Anthocyanins absorb light in the blue-green wavelengths, allowing the red wavelengths to be scattered by the plant tissues to make these organs visible to us as red.

How do anthocyanins work?

What is anthocyanin and anthocyanidin?