3. Anthocyanins: Mechanism of action and therapeutic efficacy

The current status of research on anthocyanins, their biological effects in vitro and in vivo and their potential application in human therapy are reviewed. Anthocyanins are a class of compounds belonging to the larger flavonoids class which comprises a subset of the polyphenol class of compounds. Anthocyanins are almost exclusively found in higher plants. Major sources of anthocyanins are blueberries, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, black currants, purple grapes and red wine. Anthocyanins are included in the list of natural compounds known to work as powerful antioxidants. The properties of anthocyanins for human health are due to their peculiar chemical structure, as these substances are very reactive towards reactive oxygen species (ROS). Anthocianins have been reported to exert positive effects in the treatment of various diseases and are prescribed as medicines in several countries for thousands of years. The available scientific evidence indicates that anthocyanins contained in a diet rich in fruits and vegetables are associated with a decreased risk of inflammation-related chronic diseases and that anthocyanins display a wide range of biological activities including antimicrobial, anti-carcinogenic and proapoptotic activities; improvement of vision Correspondence/Reprint request: Dr. Simona Lucioli, Centro di Ricerca per la Frutticoltura, CRA-Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura, Via di Fioranello, 52 00134 Roma, Italy E-mail: [email protected]