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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Food Components and Health Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #203188
Title: Anthocyanins Present in Some Tropical Fruits.

Author
item BRITO, EDY - EMBRAPA, BRAZIL
item ARAUJO, MANUELA - EMBRAPA, BRAZIL
item ALVES, RICARDO - EMBRAPA, BRAZIL
item Clevidence, Beverly
item Novotny, Janet

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/17/2007
Publication Date: 11/14/2007
Citation: Brito, E., Araujo, M., Alves, R., Clevidence, B.A., Novotny Dura, J. 2007. Anthocyanins present in some tropical fruits. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 55:9389-9394.

Interpretive Summary: Anthocyanins are red, blue, purple, and pink pigments found in fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants, and dietary intake of anthocyanins has been associated with a variety of health benefits. Many tropical fruits display these colors, though limited information is available to confirm that these pigments are anthocyanins or further to characterize the specific structures of the compounds. In a collaborative study with Embrapa of Brazil, the specific chemical structures of anthocyanin pigments in four tropical fruits were determined by a specialized method called mass spectrometry. Fruits studied included acerola (Malphigia emarginata), jussara (Euterpe edulis), jambolao (Syzygium cumini), and guajiru (Chrysobalanus icaco). All four fruits were found to contain anthocyanin pigments, and the anthocyanin content of each fruit was determined. These results demonstrate that these tropical fruits are rich in anthocyanins and that the anthocyanins are widely ranging in structure and quantity. This information will be useful to biological scientists, analytical chemists, and food industry professionals interested in anthocyanins.

Technical Abstract: Many tropical fruits are rich in anthocyanins, though limited information is available about the characterization and quantification of these anthocyanins. The identification of anthocyanin pigments in four tropical fruits was determined by ion trap mass spectrometry. Fruits studied included acerola (Malphigia emarginata), jussara (Euterpe edulis), jambolao (Syzygium cumini), and guajiru (Chrysobalanus icaco). Anthocyanin contents were also determined. All four fruits were found to contain anthocyanin pigments. Anthocyanidin backbones included cyanidin, delphinidin, peonidin, pelargonidin, petunidin, and malvidin. Guajiru contained several acylated forms, while acerola, jussara, and jambolao contained only nonacylated glycosides. These results demonstrate that these tropical fruits are rich in anthocyanins and that the anthocyanins are widely ranging in anthocyanidin backbone, glycosilation, and acylation.