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

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.