Abstract
Anthocyanins are used for food coloring, and are widely distributed in human foods, suggesting that we ingest large amounts of anthocyanins from plant-based foods. However, anthocyanins have not been recognized as a physiologically functional food factor. In in vivo (rat and human) studies, we have demonstrated that anthocyanins are potent physiological functional food factors that are absorbed and metabolized. Dietary cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G), one of the typical anthocyanins, functions as a potent antioxidant in vivo (liver ischemia-reperfusion and zymosan-induced inflammation system in rats). We have also demonstrated the absorption and metabolism of C3G and delphinidin (Del) derivatives in rats and humans. C3G was degraded to protocatechuic acid and metabolized to methylated C3G in rats. In the human study, C3G, Del 3-glucoside and Del 3-rutinoside were also directly absorbed and distributed to the blood. Based on our results, C3G is expected to have more beneficial effects beyond its antioxidant activity. We demonstrated that dietary C3G-rich purple corn coloring suppressed the development of obesity and ameliorated hyperglycemia induced by a high-fat diet in mice. Our findings provide a biochemical and nutritional basis for the use of anthocyanins as a functional food factor, which can also have important implications for the development of physiological functional foods.
