# Anthocyanins from Rosaceae fruits: diversity, bioactivity, and potential as natural colorants

## TL;DR

This review explores the variety and health benefits of anthocyanins from Rosaceae fruits, highlighting their potential as natural food colorants and health-promoting compounds.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of anthocyanin diversity and bioactivity in Rosaceae fruits, emphasizing their potential for natural colorants and health applications.

## Key findings

- 37 anthocyanin compounds were identified, dominated by cyanidin, delphinidin, and pelargonidin derivatives.
- Anthocyanins from Rosaceae fruits show antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects in vitro and in vivo.
- Encapsulation and co-pigmentation strategies improve the stability of anthocyanin colorants for food applications.

## Abstract

Anthocyanins are water-soluble flavonoid pigments responsible for red, purple, and blue hues in plant tissues. Rosaceae fruits—including blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, and apples—are rich sources of anthocyanins with notable antioxidant potential. This review highlights the diversity, extraction techniques, bioactivity, and applications of anthocyanins from Rosaceae fruits. A total of 37 compounds were identified, dominated by cyanidin, delphinidin, and pelargonidin derivatives, reflecting active biosynthetic pathways via F3′H and F3′5′H enzymes. Structural variation is influenced by glycosylation and acylation, involving glucoside, galactoside, rutinoside, and malonyl-glucoside forms. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, anticancer, and antibacterial effects. Anthocyanin-rich extracts show promise as natural food colorants, offering safer alternatives to synthetic dyes. Encapsulation and copigmentation strategies further enhance their stability and functionality. These findings support the potential of Rosaceae-derived anthocyanins in health-promoting formulations and sustainable food applications

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•Rosaceae fruits contain 37 anthocyanins with diverse chemical structures.•Cyanidin, delphinidin, pelargonidin are dominant in Rosaceae fruits.•Sugar and acylation patterns enhance anthocyanin structural diversity.•Anthocyanins from Rosaceae fruits show strong bioactivity, mainly as antioxidants.•Encapsulation and co-pigmentation improve anthocyanin colorant stability.

Rosaceae fruits contain 37 anthocyanins with diverse chemical structures.

Cyanidin, delphinidin, pelargonidin are dominant in Rosaceae fruits.

Sugar and acylation patterns enhance anthocyanin structural diversity.

Anthocyanins from Rosaceae fruits show strong bioactivity, mainly as antioxidants.

Encapsulation and co-pigmentation improve anthocyanin colorant stability.