Anthocyanins are a type of flavonoid,
a class of compounds with antioxidant effects, found in high quantities in various fruits and vegetables.
They are water-soluble pigments that may appear red, purple, or blue depending on the pH.
They belong to a parent class of molecules called flavonoids synthesized via the phenylpropanoid pathway.
These pigments are found in the cell vacuole, mainly in flowers and fruits, but also in leaves, stems, and roots.
The primary role of anthocyanins in plants is attracting pollinators and seed dispersers.
However, they also contribute to a plant's defenses against various stresses such as cold, drought, and disease.
For humans, anthocyanins are notable for their potential health benefits. They are potent antioxidants,
protecting the body's cells from damage by free radicals. Some research suggests that they may offer anti-inflammatory,
anti-viral, and anti-cancer benefits. They may also aid in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and improve visual
and cognitive functions.
Anthocyanins are part of the reason fruits and vegetables with deep red, purple, and blue colours are often associated with health-promoting properties.
Examples of some flowers containing anthocyanins are listed below:
Roses -
Many varieties of roses contain anthocyanins, giving them colours ranging from pink to deep red and purple..
Pansies - These flowers exhibit a wide variety of colours due to anthocyanins,
including many shades of purple and blue.
Petunias - The purple and blue hues of many petunias are a result of anthocyanins.
Hydrangeas - In some varieties of hydrangeas, the colour of the flowers
can be changed by adjusting the pH level of the soil, which in turn affects the colour of the anthocyanins.
Tulips - Some tulips have deep purple, pink, or red hues due to
the presence of anthocyanins.
Delphiniums - The stunning blue colour of delphiniums is due to anthocyanins.
Examples of some seeds containing anthocyanins are listed below:
Chia Seeds -
Black chia seeds contain a certain amount of anthocyanins, primarily cyanidin and delphinidin derivatives, which contribute to their dark coluor.
Black Soybean - Black soybean seeds have anthocyanins in their seed coat, primarily
cyanidin-3-glucoside, delphinidin-3-glucoside, and peonidin-3-glucoside.
Grape Seeds (from dark grapes) - Grape seeds from dark-coloured grapes
contain several anthocyanins, including malvidin, peonidin, and cyanidin.
Black Sesame Seeds - Black sesame seeds have anthocyanins,
specifically cyanidin-3-glucoside, that contribute to their black colour.
The extraction process, including the solvents and methods used, can influence the concentration and types of anthocyanins present in the final extract.
It is often the case that a balance needs to be found between fully-extracting all anthocyanins while also ensuring that the compounds that are
obtained are of a high quality and not degraded.
At Celignis we have extensive experience in the design and optimisation of extraction protocols for a wide variety of chemical constituents from
many different biomass types. If needed we can also work on processes to separate and purify the target compounds.
Click here to read more about Celignis's Bioprocess Development Services for the extraction of
chemicals from biomass.
€1.6m Funding Success for Celignis in 2024 CBE-JU Calls
We have secured funding for involvement in 4 collaborative research projects
We are delighted to announce that Celignis has been successful in 4 project proposals submitted for funding to the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) programme.
These projects will provide funding of 1.6m EUR to Celignis over the next few years and build upon the 3 projects (worth 1.5m EUR) we secured last year and the 4 previous CBE/BBI projects that Celignis participated in.
Details on the projects are provided below:
WoodVALOR - This RIA project concerns the valorisation of contaminated/post-consumer wood waste (WW) via: (i) thermal conversion to biochar; and (ii) fractionation followed by conversions to paints & coatings ingredients. Celignis is involved in the chemo-enzymatic fractionation of decontaminated wood (DW) to sequentially extract/purify lignin and hemicellulose, and in developing hemicellulose-based emulsifiers/stabilizers and binder monomers for industrial formulations. Additionally, Celignis is involved in metals/mineral recovery from decontamination wastewater using
New Publication from a Celignis Bioprocess Development Project
The article, available in "Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery" is entitled "Process development for efficient pectin extraction from tobacco residues and its characterisation"
We are please to announce the publication of a peer-reviewed scientific article based on some of the research outputs of a Bioprocess Development Service (BDS) project undertaken by Celignis.
The article, entitled "Process development for efficient pectin extraction from tobacco residues and its characterisation" details the results of experiments targeting the optimised extraction of pectin from the laminae of a number of different varieties of tobacco plants. These tobacco-derived pectins were found to have a medium molecular weight and low methoxy content and our findings indicated that this feedstock could be suitable for the production of pectin with dietary applications.
Meeting takes place at the coordinator's (ITA) headquarters in Zaragoza, SPAIN
Celignis personnel are today attending the kick-off meeting of the CBE-JU project MANUREFINERY at the facilities of the project's coordinator (ITA) in Zaragoza, Spain.
MANUREFINERY concerns the development of a small, decentralised, modular biorefinery concept for farms that converts manure and ammonia emissions into seven marketable bio-ingredients (animal-feed proteins, caproic acid, and fertiliser salts/ashes). The solution integrates fixed/mobile units across three valorisation lines (gas, liquid, solid) and a digital twin for optimisation and scale-up, targeting TRL6-7 validation on four EU demo farms.
Celignis has a number of key roles in the project, including:
- Comprehensive analysis of the feedstocks and products of the process.
Meeting takes place at the coordinator's (AIMPLAS) headquarters in Valencia, Spain
PROMOFER, is an Innovation Action project funded by the CBE-JU, under topic HORIZON-JU-CBE-2023-IA-03 (Improve Fermentation Processes (Including Downstream Purification) To Final Bio-Based Products).
This project started in June 2024 with Celignis, an SME partner and full industry BIC member, playing a pivotal role in the project. Our core activities include undertaking the pre-treatment and hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass at scaled-up (TRL7, 1 m3) volumes. The resulting sugars are then provided to other partners for downstream fermentations.
Today Celignis's CIO Lalitha is attending the kick-off meeting of the project, at coordinator AIMPLAS's headquarters in Valencia, Spain.
We're attending the kick-off meeting for BIONEER in Trondheim, Norway (SINTEF)
Lalitha is attending the kick-off meeting of our CBE-JU project BIONEER, located at the coordinator's (SINTEF) premises in Trondheim, Norway.
BIONEER has the title "Scaled-up Production of Next-Generation Carbohydrate-Derived Building Blocks to Enhance the Competitiveness of a Sustainable European Chemicals Industry". It is a 4-year Innovation Action project with 7.5m EUR of funding provided by the CBE-JU.
Celignis plays a key role in BIONEER, being responsible for the scaled-up (TRL7) production of platform chemicals.
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