Difference Between Anthocyanidins and Anthocyanins
What Are Anthocyanidins?
Anthocyanidins are a type of flavonoid compounds and natural water-soluble pigments widely found in plants. More than 500 plant species contain anthocyanidins. More than 20 anthocyanidins have been identified in nature. The six major anthocyanidins are: Pelargonidin, Cyanidin, Delphinidin, Peonidin, Petunidin and Malvidin.
The structural differences among anthocyanidins are mainly determined by the number of hydroxyl groups (-OH) and methoxy groups (-OCH₃) on the B-ring.
| Anthocyanidins | Number of -OH on B-ring | Number of -OH | Number of -O-CH₃ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyanidin | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Delphinidin | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| Malvidin | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Peonidin | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Petunidin | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| Pelargonidin | 1 | 4 | 0 |
What Are Anthocyanins?
Anthocyanins are flavonoid compounds formed by anthocyanidins combined with one or more sugar molecules through glycosidic bonds.In nature, anthocyanidins rarely exist in their free form. They usually combine with sugar groups, such as glucose, rhamnose, arabinose, and galactose, to form anthocyanins. The commonly found glycosyl groups include: Glucose, Galactose, Rhamnose.
The attachment of sugar groups affects the properties of anthocyanins, including water solubility, stability, and absorption.
| Glycosyl Group | Water Solubility | Stability | Absorption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glucose | High | Low | High |
| Galactose | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Rhamnose | Low | High | Low |
Relationship Between Anthocyanidins and Anthocyanins
The relationship between anthocyanidins and anthocyanins can be simply described as:
Anthocyanidin + Glycosyl Groups → Anthocyanin
For example:
Cyanidin + Glucose → Cyanidin-3-Glucoside (C3G)
Cyanidin-3-Glucoside (C3G) is one of the most common anthocyanins found in natural plants. It is widely present in:
-
Black rice
-
Lonicera Caerulea
Conclusion
Anthocyanidins are the basic aglycone structures of anthocyanins, while anthocyanins are formed when anthocyanidins combine with sugar molecules. Although anthocyanidins determine the color characteristics of these natural pigments, anthocyanins are the major forms naturally found in plants and are widely used in food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and other industries. Understanding the difference between anthocyanidins and anthocyanins helps manufacturers select the right botanical ingredients for their specific applications.