Anthocyanins: Novel Antioxidants in Diseases Prevention and Human Health

Abstract

Abstract Anthocyanins are a category of water-soluble natural pigments that exist widely in all kinds of vegetables, fruits, and seeds. In fact, the chemical nature of anthocyanins is a group of compounds, and possesses antioxidant capacity like flavonoids. Anthocyanins show antioxidant activity by scavenging free radicals, activating antioxidant enzyme, and chelating metal ions. Anthocyanins, there- fore, are recognized as one of the most effective natural antioxidant in the human body. Anthocyanins for a variety of disease prevention and health care are closely related to their strong antioxidant activity and scavenging free radical ability. The present chapter reviewed anthocyanins eliminating free radicals for preventing neoplasm, modulating antioxidant enzyme for preventing Alzheimer’s disease, losing weight for preventing diabetes, regulating lipid metabolism for prevent- ing cardiovascular disease, and inhibiting photoreceptor apoptosis for treating xerophthalmia and for other diseases treated. In addition, some healthy food added of anthocyanins was used as precaution for some diseases, else, there are some cosmetics added with anthocyanins, including sunscreen, creams, mouth- wash, and shampoo. Specific creams for characteristics of Chinese old people skin in Chinese Company were developed and achieved anti-wrinkle and moisturizing efficacy. Simultaneously, anthocyanins can also be as a food additive to lactic acid milk, cakes, and other food. Keywords: anthocyanins, antioxidants, disease prevention, human health