Malvidin is an
O-methylated anthocyanidin, the 3',5'-methoxy derivative of
delphinidin. As a primary
plant pigment
Biological pigments, also known simply as pigments or biochromes, are substances produced by living organisms that have a color resulting from selective color absorption. Biological pigments include plant pigments and flower pigments. Many biol ...
, its
glycoside
In chemistry, a glycoside is a molecule in which a sugar is bound to another functional group via a glycosidic bond. Glycosides play numerous important roles in living organisms. Many plants store chemicals in the form of inactive glycosides. ...
s are highly abundant in nature.
Natural occurrences
Malvidin is responsible for the blue color found in petals of the ''
Primula'' plants of the ''polyanthus'' group. Blue flowers of the blue pimpernel (''
Anagallis monelli
''Lysimachia monelli'', the blue pimpernel or garden pimpernel (formerly known as ''Anagallis monelli'') is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, native to the Mediterranean region. It is not to be confused with '' Lysimachia ...
'') have also a higher concentration of malvidin.
It is responsible primarily for the color of red wine, ''
Vitis vinifera
''Vitis vinifera'', the common grape vine, is a species of flowering plant, native to the Mediterranean region, Central Europe, and southwestern Asia, from Morocco and Portugal north to southern Germany and east to northern Iran. There are cur ...
'' being one of its sources. It is also present in other berries, such as blueberries (''
Vaccinium corymbosum'') or the saskatoon berries (''
Amelanchier alnifolia'').
Chemistry
Slightly
acidic and
neutral solutions of malvidin are characteristically of a red color, while
basic solutions of malvidin yield a blue color.
The breakdown of malvidin releases
syringic acid.
Use as a marker in archaeology
The breakdown of malvidin releases
syringic acid as revealed in the examination of jars containing
shedeh Shedeh was a drink of ancient Egypt. Although it was long thought to have been made from pomegranates, recent evidence suggests it came from red grapes.
History
The name Shedeh appeared inscribed on the labels of Egyptian two-handled pottery amp ...
, a drink of Ancient Egypt. Malvidin is also present in the site of the
Areni-1 winery, a 6,100-year-old winery discovered in 2007 in the Areni-1 cave complex in the village of Areni in the Vayots Dzor province of
Armenia
Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''O ...
.
Glycosides
*
Malvin is a malvidin di
glucoside
A glucoside is a glycoside that is derived from glucose. Glucosides are common in plants, but rare in animals. Glucose is produced when a glucoside is hydrolysed by purely chemical means, or decomposed by fermentation or enzymes.
The name was ...
.
*
Oenin is the malvidin-3-glucoside.
*
Primulin is the 3-O-
galactoside of malvidin.
*
Malvidin 3-rutinoside is a pigment responsible for bract color in ''
Curcuma alismatifolia'' (the Siam tulip).
Acylated malvidin 3-rutinoside
In chemistry, acylation (or alkanoylation) is the chemical reaction in which an acyl group () is added to a compound. The compound providing the acyl group is called the acylating agent.
Because they form a strong electrophile when treated with ...
s are responsible for the violet color of ''
Petunia integrifolia subsp. inflata
''Petunia'' is genus of 20 species of flowering plants of South American origin. The popular flower of the same name derived its epithet from the French, which took the word ''petun'', meaning "tobacco," from a Tupi–Guarani language. A tend ...
''.
*
Malvidin-3-O-glucoside-5-O-(6-acetylglucoside) is a pigment responsible for the blue color in 'Johnson's Blue' and other 'blue'
geraniums
See also
*
List of phytochemicals in food
*
List of antioxidants in food
This is a list of antioxidants naturally occurring in food. Vitamin C and vitamin E – which are ubiquitous among raw plant foods – are confirmed as dietary antioxidants, whereas vitamin A becomes an antioxidant following metabolism of ...
References
{{Anthocyanins
O-methylated anthocyanidins