Biosynthesis and Stability of Anthocyanins

Anthocyanin profiles of plants are influenced by expression of genes involved in bio-synthetic pathway and are characteristic of specific plant species and families. Although, structure, content and function of various anthocyanins differ significantly, all of them share the same biosynthetic pathway in plants from same precursor. They are products of secondary metabolism (phenyl-pronanoid). Being secondary metabolic products, their synthesis is induced under specific environmental conditions; UV-radiation, biotic/abiotic stress, nutrients deficits and for defense purposes. With advanced molecular biology techniques, encoding enzymes used in biosynthesis and genes responsible for regulating the production and accumulation of anthocyanins have been identified. This chapter describes details of biosynthetic pathway of anthocyanins as well as stability of anthocyanin. Various factors affecting stability of anthocyanins have also been described. Keywords Anthocyanins Biosynthic pathway Stability Degradation