Anthocyanidins are a group of flavonoids found in plants that contain the pigment anthocyanin. Anthocyanidins are responsible for giving plants their colour and have many potential health benefits. They can be found in fruits, vegetables, grains, tea, wine and more.
Anthocyanidins consist of six basic chemical structures: cyanidine-3-glucoside (C3G), cyanidine-3-rutinoside (C3R), pelargonidine-3-glucoside (P3G), peonidine 3 rutinoside (PnR), delphinine 3 glucoside (DpG) and malvidine 3 rutinoside(MvR). Each structure contains different levels of antioxidant activity which can affect its biological properties.
The main function of anthocyandins is to protect against environmental stressors such as UV radiation or extreme temperatures which may damage the plant’s cell membranes or DNA. In addition to this protective role they also act as signaling molecules involved in regulating various processes including growth and flowering in plants . Studies have shown that some species produce higher amounts of anthocyandins when exposed to drought conditions indicating an important role for these compounds during times of environmental stress .
In humans, ingesting food sources rich in anthocyandins may offer numerous health benefits including protection from oxidative stress caused by free radicals , antiinflammatory effects , improved cardiovascular health , enhanced immune system function , reduced risk for certain types of cancer , improved brain function and even antiaging effects . These beneficial effects have been linked with both dietary intake as well as topical application on skin cells .
Despite the promising results within human studies there is still much research required before definitive statements regarding the therapeutic use of these compounds can be made so additional clinical trials will need to be conducted