Abstract
The chemical structure of anthocyanins is related to the flower color and antioxidants present in Tropaeolum majus, which is an edible flower was characterized. They have only been estimated using mass spectrometry (MS) thus far. Here, delphinidin 3-O-[2-O-(β-glucopyranosyl)-β-glucopyranoside] (delphinidin 3-O-sophoroside) was first identified from red petals of T. majus. Moreover, 3-O-sophorosides of cyanidin, pelargonidin, myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol were isolated from red, orange-red, yellow-orange, and yellow T. majus flowers. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and MS were used for structural analysis of the isolated flavonoids. The ingestible flavonoid components present in T. majus can be further identified in detail. Furthermore, by studying the flower color and flavonoid distribution in T. majus, it became possible to judge the type of flavonoid as a functional component ingested as an edible flower from the flower color.
