Edited by: Márcio Carocho, Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Portugal
Reviewed by: Adilson Alves De Freitas, University of Lisbon, Portugal; Michael Erich Netzel, The University of Queensland, Australia
This article was submitted to Food Chemistry, a section of the journal Frontiers in Nutrition
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Anthocyanins are naturally occurring water-soluble flavonoids abundantly present in fruits and vegetables. They are polymethoxyderivatives of 2-phenyl-benzopyrylium or flavylium salts. Delphinidin (Dp) is a purple-colored plant pigment, which occurs in a variety of berries, eggplant, roselle, and wine. It is found in a variety of glycosidic forms ranging from glucoside to arabinoside. Dp is highly active in its aglycone form, but the presence of a sugar moiety is vital for its bioavailability. Several animal and human clinical studies have shown that it exerts beneficial effects on gut microbiota. Dp exhibits a variety of useful biological activities by distinct and complex mechanisms. This manuscript highlights the basic characteristics, chemistry, biosynthesis, stability profiling, chemical synthesis, physicochemical parameters along with various analytical methods developed for extraction, isolation and characterization, diverse biological activities and granted patents to this lead anthocyanin molecule, Dp. This review aims to open pathways for further exploration and research investigation on the true potential of the naturally occurring purple pigment (Dp) in its anthocyanidin and anthocyanin forms beyond nutrition.
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- It covers phytochemistry of delphinidin including biosynthesis, extraction, isolation, and analysis.
- Overview of biological activities of delphinidin and its glycosides with emphasis on molecular mechanism.
- It lists synergistic combinations of delphinidin with anticancer agents.
- It includes patents granted to delphinidin.
Flavonoids are one of the biggest classes of polyphenolic compounds having diverse chemical structures and characteristics that are present ubiquitously in plants. These plant pigments have a skeleton of 15 carbon atoms (C6-C3-C6) containing three rings,
Major anthocyanins and glycosidic forms of delphinidin present in nature.
Anthocyanins (
Approximately, over 700 unique anthocyanins have been isolated so far (
Dp (3,3',4',5,5',7-hexa-hydroxy-flavylium), one of the major anthocyanidins, is a polyphenolic compound with oxygen in the 1st position, and is linked to the sugar moiety in 3-O-β- position of the C ring. Dp (PubChem CID: 68245) is made up of three rings,
There has been a substantial increase in the frequency of publication of articles stipulating the therapeutic effectiveness of Dp and its glycosides over the years. This review article aimed to discuss the phytochemical aspects, biosynthesis, physiochemical characteristics, and potential therapeutic activities of Dp, and the progress made in research on this purple pigment and its glycosides.
Delphinidin (Dp) is biosynthesized along with other anthocyanidins (Cy and Pg) from coumaroyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA (
Biosynthetic pathway of delphinidin. ANS, anthocyanidin synthase; CHS, chalcone synthase; CHI, chalcone isomerase; F3H, flavanone 3-hydroxylase; F3′H, flavonoid-3′5′-hydroxylase; F3′5′H, flavonoid-3′,5′-hydroxylase; DFR, dihydroflavonol-4-reductase; UF3GT, UDP-Glc flavonoid 3-O-glucosyl transferase.
Delphinidin (Dp) is responsible for the magenta, purple, and blue colors of flowers. Dp, after biosynthesis, is glycosylated, acetylated, and methylated by glucosyltransferases, acyltransferases, and methyltransferases, respectively. Glycosylation of Dp takes place in the 3rd position. Methylation of Dp (anthocyanin) takes place in the 3' and 5' positions, resulting in formation of other anthocyanins (Pt and Mv) (
Inspection of major metabolic pathways
Pratt and Robinson (
It is known that various chemical and environmental factors such as temperature, pH, light, and air affect the stability of anthocyanins, leading to easy degradation and decomposition during processing and storage (
pH-mediated degradation of delphinidin: in low pH, 1–2 red colored flavylium cations are observed, in alkaline pH 8–10 blue-color quinonoidal bases, in pH 4–6 colorless carbinol pseudobase and chalcone, and in pH > 7, degradation products of delphinidin, 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzaldehyde and gallic acid, are observed (
Dp is highly soluble in polar solvents, and it increases with increase in temperature and polarity. The mole fraction solubility of Dp is highest in methanol (58.61 ± 0.01 to 168.64 ± 0.02) followed by water (53.53 ± 0.06 to 163.71 ± 0.02), ethanol (5.73 ± 0.02 to 15.59 ± 0.02), and acetone (0.0055 ± 0.0012 to 0.0157 ± 0.0013) at temperatures ranging from 298.15 to 343.15 K (
Earlier, anthocyanins were extracted with a traditional solvent-aided extraction method using alcohol and acid (
Dp is isolated and characterized by numerous chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques such as high-speed countercurrent chromatography (
Conditions required for extraction, isolation, and characterization of delphinidin and its glycosides.
1 | Highbush blueberry ( |
Solvent aided extraction using acetone and acetic acid (99:1 v/v) and further ultrasound assisted sonification for 15 min | ( |
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2 | Highbush blueberry ( |
Solvent assisted extraction with 87% v/v acetonitrile, 3% v/v water, 10% v/v formic acid from blueberry and its juice | ( |
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3 | Lowbush blueberry ( |
Solvent assisted extraction carried using acidified ethanol and then further extracted by solid phase extraction carried out using Circa, C-18 adsorbent (modified silica gel |
Anthocyanin: 485 mg of cyanin equivalent |
( |
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4 | Lowbush blueberry ( |
Solid phase extraction using (SPE)-cartridge (Strata-X 300 mg/3 mL, Phenomenex) and elution was carried out using 0.01 N HCl (5 mL), ethyl acetate (10 mL), and acidified methanol (5 mL) with 0.1% HCl | Anthocyanin: 29.9 ± 5.17 mg/mL |
( |
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5 | Bilberry ( |
Solvent aided extraction using ethyl acetate and maceration with acidified methanol (0.6 M HCl) to extract anthocyanin | ( |
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6 | Bilberry ( |
Solvent assisted extraction with 87% v/v acetonitrile, 3% v/v water, 10% v/v formic acid from blueberry and its juice | ( |
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7 | Bilberry ( |
Extraction carried out using 60% ethanol acidified with HCl |
ND | ( |
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8 | Blackcurrant ( |
Solvent aided extraction using acetone and acetic acid (99:1 v/v) and further ultrasound assisted sonification for 15 min | ( |
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9 | Blackcurrant ( |
Extraction with methanol:water:formic acid (50:48:2 v/v/v) | ( |
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Dp-3-R: 213.9 ± 12.9–369.3 ± 2.6 mg/100 g |
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10 | Blackcurrant ( |
Extraction with acidified water (0.01% v/v concentrated HCl) and purification with Amberlite XAD-7HP resin and elution with acidified ethanol (0.01% v/v conc. HCl). Further extraction with acidified water, isopropylacetate and ethyl acetate | Concentration of Dp-3-R (22.6%) was highest followed by Cy-3-R (20.4%), Dp-3-G (7.7%), Cy-3-G (4%) | ( |
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11 | Eggplant ( |
Sadilova et al. reported the extraction from eggplant peel with aqueous acetone maintained at pH 1 i.e., water acidified with trifluoroacetic acid/acetone, 30:70, v/v |
Dp-3-R: 378 ± 9.9 mg/kg |
( |
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12 | Violet pepper ( |
Extraction from voilet pepper peel with aqueous acetone maintained at pH 1 i.e., water acidified with trifluoroacetic acid/acetone, 30: 70, v/v |
Dp-3-R-5-G: 36.5 ± 0.8 mg/kg |
( |
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13 | Solvent-aided extraction from |
( |
Absorption and metabolism of anthocyanins rely on aglycones and type of sugar moiety present (
Dp glycosides such as Dp-3G, Dp-3R, Dp-3-Gal, and Dp-3-Ar, are comparatively more bioavailable than Dp, which suffers from low bioavailability owing to its poor aqueous solubility (
The low bioavailability, instability in physiologic pH, and high reactivity of Dp pose major challenges to the scientific community. Various approaches have been tried to improve the bioavailability of Dp so this naturally occurring plant pigment can find applications as a dietary supplement and nutraceutical in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Attempts have been made to improve its solubility, stability, and bioavailability by complexation with cyclodextrins such as sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (
Anthocyanins and anthocyanidins are reported to be absorbed from the intestine after ingestion; they interact with the transport proteins OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 and get transported to the liver for metabolism and excreted in the bile (
Dp was found to possess significant noncompetitive inhibitory effects against human CBRs with an IC50 value of 16 μM and a substrate concentration of 500 μM, and to moderately and mildly inhibit UGTs and GSTs (IC50 = 150 μM), respectively. These inhibitory potencies are significantly different in rat and humans' samples. Differences in the metabolic pathway of Dp and its glucosides have also been reported. Dp 3, 5 di-glucoside can reduce the expression of SLCO/OATP1B3, but this effect has not been reported for Dp, indicating a correlation between the presence and the absence of a sugar moiety. Some factors like oxygen, polyphenols, and metals influence the metabolic degradation pathway of Dp analogs (
Consumption of high-fat diet, fruits, and vegetables rich in bioactive phenolic compounds are known to affect the gut microbiome, and significant changes in the population of gut microbiota could either increase or decrease the risk of chronic diseases. The interaction of gut microbiota with anthocyanins plays a prominent role in regulating homeostasis and the prebiotic activity of gut microbiome and its composition and population. One study reported that consumption of berries containing high content of Dp promoted proliferation of an oxygen-sensitive bacterial population by decreasing oxygen tension in gut lumens of mice (
Dp as both anthocyanidin and anthocyanin exhibits dominant anticancer activity against a variety of cancers such as breast, ovarian, colon, prostate, lung, hepatic, bone, blood, and skin cancers. Data from various literatures highlighting the anticancer potential of Dp and some of its glycosides are presented below. In majority of cancers, Dp acts by interfering with protein targets of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways. The plausible mechanism of action of anticancer activity is illustrated in
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and Met are potential candidate targets for therapeutic and pharmacological intervention in breast cancer therapy. Pretreatment of the human mammary epithelial cell line (MCF-10A) with Dp (5–40 μM) for 3 h inhibited the stimulation of Met expression. An immunoblot analysis revealed that Dp treatment down-regulated the expression of downstream proteins involved in regulating cell viability stimulated by HGF/Mets like FAK and Src, paxillin, CrkII and CrkL, Gab1, and SHP-2. Dp also prevented phosphorylation of Raf-1, MEK1/2, ERK1/2, STAT3, AKT, mTOR, p70S6K, and eIF4E, and the expression of PI3K85 stimulated by HGF. Consequently, Dp prevented HGF-provoked NF-κB and PKCα signaling (
Ozbay and Nahta observed that Dp (12.5, 25, 50, and 100 μg/ml) could induce apoptosis in seven breast cancer cell lines including ER negative (HCC1806, MDA231, MDA468, SKBR3, and MDA453) and ER positive (BT474, MCF7, MCF10A), but that apoptosis was not induced in non-transformed MCF10A cell lines. Rate of apoptosis was noted to be highest in human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-over expressing cell lines SKBR3 and BT474. Dp also prevented anchorage independent growth, proliferation, and metastasis, and further impeded HER2 and extracellular signal-regulated kinases ERK1/2 signaling in triple negative (MDA231 and MDA468) and HER2-overexpressing cell lines. Growth and ERK-1/2 signaling in transformed MCF10A cells were inhibited by Dp at doses of 25 and 50 μg/ml. Combination of Dp with approved drugs targeting HER-2 (Herceptin and lapatinib) was not effective compared to Dp treatment alone on SKBR3 and BT474 (
Chen et al. revealed an immense potential of Dp in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer cells. Dp was noted to be active against MDA-MB-453 and BT474 cells (IC50 = 40 and 100 μM, respectively), and induced caspase-9 and caspase-3 mediated apoptosis. TEM data showed that increase in Dp concentration reversed 3-methyladenine and Bafilomycin A1-provoked autophagic suppression and enhanced the expression of autophagic proteins (LC3-II, Atg5-Atg12 conjugate). Dp restrained the phosphorylation of p70S6K and eIF4E (proteins involved in mTOR signaling pathway) and played a role in the activation of ULK1 and FOXO3a (involved in LKB1-AMPK signaling pathway) (
Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 is responsible for metastasis of cancer cells. Dp at a concentration of 60 μM could inhibit MMP-9 expression stimulated by phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in human breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7). Dp treatment inhibited proteins (p38 and JNK) involved in MAPK signaling pathway; it hindered the PMA-induced expression of c-Jun (AP-1 subunit) and p65 (NF-κB subunit), and IκBα degradation, leading to deactivation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and AP-1 (
Interestingly, Dp-3G treatment did not induce cytotoxicity in MCF10A and a human vascular endothelial cell line (EA. hy926), but cytotoxicity was induced to some extent in breast cancer cell lines like MCF-7, MDA-MB-453, and MDA-MB-231 by Dp-3G (0–40 μM). The anticancer effects of Dp-3-G were due to suppression of Akt stimulation and enhanced IRF1 expression which are involved in controlling HOTAIR expression in carcinogen treated MCF10A, other breast cancer cells and in xenografted breast tumor. A ChIP-qPCR analysis showed that treatment with Dp-3G enhanced the binding of IRF1 with HOTAIR promoter in MDA-MB-231 cells. Suppression of IRF1 expression by IRF1 siRNAs (TCanti-IRF1, stimulated HOTAIR expression and reduced the anticancer effects of Dp, signifying that Dp interferes with the regulation of Akt/IRF1/HOTAIR signaling pathway in breast cancer (
Han et al. investigated the anticancer potential of orally administered Dp (100 mg/kg/day) in female Sprague-Dawley rats with 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced breast cancer. Dp effectively reduced cancer incidence in the experimental animals by 43.7% and significantly decreased the rate of
Lim et al. studied the role of Dp in ovarian cancer. The results of terminal de-oxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay indicated that treatment with Dp (10 μM) could effectively suppress growth and migration, and that it was able to induce apoptosis in ovarian cancer cell line (ES2). Downstream proteins of the PI3K/AKT and p38 MAPK signaling pathways like AKT, ERK1/2, and JNK were effectively down-regulated, and the expression of proteins like p38 and GSK3b was not affected by Dp treatment (
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-treated SKOV3 cells (100 nM for 24 h) led to increased rate of cell growth and metastasis. Dp, at higher doses of 100 and 200 μM for 24 h, averted BDNF-provoked cell growth, and at a dose of 50 and 75 μM prevented the mobility and invasion of SKOV3 cells. Dp also suppressed the expression of BDNF-provoked metastasis-inducing proteins such as MMP9 and MMP2 (
Treatment of human colon cancer (HCT116) cells with Dp (30–240 μM, 48 h) decreased growth and proliferation, and enhanced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 110 μM). Dp treatment not only cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), it also attenuated the expression of procaspases–3, –8, and –9. It was observed to interfere with proteins involved in modulation of apoptosis, i.e., led to downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax expression. The number of cells in the G2/M phase of cell cycle was increased upon increasing the dose of Dp. Cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase was due to reduction in expression of cyclin B1 and cycle 2 kinase and enhanced expression of p53 and p21WAF1/Cip1. NF-κB activation was hindered by Dp treatment of HCT116 cells (
Aichinger et al. reported that Alternaria mycotoxin alternariol (AOH), Dp, and genistein exhibit cytotoxic effects on HT-29 cells at 25, ≥25, and ≥ 25 μM, respectively. Synergism was observed between AOH and Dp or genistien, as Dp and AOH in combination exhibited greater toxicity toward HT-29 cells (
Altertoxin II (ATX-II) is a genotoxic impurity found in a variety of food products and is mainly responsible for DNA damage in colon carcinoma cells. ATX-II-Dp combination at doses ≥ 5 μM exhibited cytotoxicity in colon carcinoma cell line (HT-29). ATX-II (1 μM, 1 h)-provoked genotoxicity in HT-29 cells was successfully averted by Dp treatment at 50 and 100 μM, both in the presence and the absence of formamidopyrimidin-DNA-glycosylase. Dp (1 μM) also relieved oxidative stress because of generation of ROS by ATX-II (10 μM) in HT-29 cells. An LC-MS analysis revealed that Dp, gallic acid, and phloroglucinol aldehyde led to reduction in levels of ATX-II in solvents like PBS and DMEM but not in DMSO, signifying that Dp undergoes pH-mediated degradation (
Huang et al. (
Recently, Zhang et al. reported that antiproliferative effects of Dp on colon cancer cells (HCT116) are due to apoptosis induction by modulation of the JAK/STAT3 and MAPKinase signaling pathways. Dp treatment is also associated with induction of cytochrome C, Caspase- 3, 8, and 9, and pro-apoptotic Bax, and it was found to inhibit anti-apoptotic protein expression (
Jeong et al. (
Pal et al. evaluated the potential of Dp in therapy of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It was found that treatment of EGFR and VEGFR expressing NSCLC (NCI-H441 and SK-MES-1) with Dp (5–60 μM, 3 h) leads to downregulation of EGF- and VEGF-provoked and constitutive EGFR and VEGFR expressions, respectively. Dp, during a course of 48-h treatment, turned down PI3K/Akt signaling, and its downstream targets were activated by EGFR and phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and p38 in the cell lines. The expression of Cyclin D1, PCNA, and anti-apoptotic proteins like Mcl-1, Bcl2, and Bcl-xL was suppressed, and the expression of pro-apoptotic genes like Bak and Bax was enhanced by Dp treatment. The expression of caspase-9 and−3 and cleavage of PARP were stimulated by Dp. An MTT analysis showed that Dp (5–100 μM, 48 h) reduced cell viability with IC50 values of 55, 58, and 44 μM for A549, SK-MES-1, and NCI-H441 cells, respectively.
Kang et al. showed that the combination of Dp (5 μM) and ionizing radiation (4 Gy/min) have better outcome than either agent alone. Dp exerted its beneficial effects
It has been known that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an important target for developing anticancer therapy, as it is overexpressed in (abnormal and elevated levels) skin cancer. Pretreatment with Dp (5–20 μM, 1 h) has been found to hinder UVB-provoked COX-2 and prostaglandin E2(PGE2) expression in the JB6P+ epidermal cell line of female ICR mice. However, at this concentration, Dp was not able to affect the survival ability of cells. WBA data revealed that Dp down-regulated the expression of UVB-provoked MAPKK4, JNK, c-Jun, p38, ERK1/2, p90RSK, AP-1, NF-κB, and several downstream substrates of PI3K pathway, but the expression of MAPKK-3/6, and 7, and MEK-1/2 remained unaffected.
Delphinidin (Dp) (20 or 40 μM) pre-treatment of JB6 P+ cells also inhibits TNF-α and provokes the expression of COX-2 promoter and COX-2. Dp inhibits TNF-α more effectively than other phenolics like resveratrol (40 μM) or gallic acid. Dp (40 μM) treatment led to reduction in the expression of TNF-α-induced downstream kinases involved in COX-2 expression like AP-1 by 82% and NF-kB by 44%, and several upstream kinases like JNK, p38 MAP, Akt, p90RSK, MSK1, and ERK. A pull-down assay demonstrated that Fyn kinase expression was also suppressed by Dp treatment. It was proved that Dp binds with Fyn kinase irrespective of ATP concentration. Molecular docking highlighted the interaction between Dp and Fyn kinase, as Dp forms hydrogen bonds with the side chain of Gln161 and the backbone carbonyl group of Met249 in the SH2 domain, with the backbone carbonyl group of Tyr343 in the catalytic kinase domain, and showed hydrophobic interaction with Ile402 and Met344 of the kinase domain. Dp also suppressed FAK (a Fyn kinase downstream protein) (
Kuo et al. demonstrated that treatment of JB6 P+ cells with Dp (5, 10, and 20 μM) for 1, 3, or 5 days can significantly reduce cellular proliferation and enhance cell viability above 50%. Dp pretreatment of JB6 P+ cells led to reduction in TPA-induced anchorage-independent growth by 69.4, 74.4, and 99.4% with increase in concentration of Dp from 5 to 20 μM. Dp enhanced normalized relative luminescence and antioxidant responsive element (ARE)-dependent luciferase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, Dp escalated the expression of Nrf2 and its target genes, which, when bound to the ARE region, triggered the expression of the carcinogen-detoxifying phase 2 enzymes HO-1 and NQO1 and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger SOD1, and led to CpG demethylation in in the Nrf2 promoter. It was suggested that Dp exhibits its activity by lowering the expression of DNMTs (DNMT1 and DNMT3a) and class I and class II HDACs, which further led to decreased CpG methylation (
The role of Dp has also been investigated in osteocarcinoma. Interestingly, Dp, in a dose-dependent manner, decreased cell viability by arresting the proliferation of osteosarcoma cell (OS) line (U2OS) and by provoking reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. A western blot analysis indicated that Dp also provoked the expression of LC3-II gene, caused degradation of p62 protein, and led to autophagosome formation. Enhanced activity against OS cells was observed on pre-treatment with the combination of Dp and autophagy inhibitors (3-MA and bafilomycin A1). Flow cytometry and a cell cycle analysis showed that Dp treatment enhanced DNA content in the sub-G1 phase and cell number in the G2/M phase along with reduction in cell number in the G0/G1 phase (
Delphinidin (Dp) treatment of OS cell lines (U2OS, HOS, and MG-63) reduced the survival ability of U2OS and HOS cells. A colony-forming assay conducted on U2OS and HOS cells revealed that Dp (0.1–10 μM, 7 days) significantly hindered growth and proliferation. Treatment of U2OS and HOS cells with Dp (75 μM, 6–24 h) showed elevation in condensation of nuclear ratio by 48 and 37%, respectively; shrinkage of tumor cells and apoptosis were also observed in a time-dependent manner. The expression of proteins involved in apoptosis, like Bcl-2, was reduced, and the expression of Bak, pro-caspase-2, and PARP was stimulated, therefore enhancing the release of Cyp c by Dp treatment in OS cell lines. A transwell chamber assay revealed that Dp (75 μM, 24 h) averted metastasis in OS cells. WBA demonstrated that the expression of EMT markers involved in tumor metastasis like E-cadherin was enhanced, while that of N-cadherin, Snail, and Slug was reduced by Dp. The expression of p38 and ERK 1/2 was also hindered by Dp. Dp behaved synergistically with ERK1/2 and p38 inhibitors (SB203580 and PD38059, 20 μM), as co-treatment enhanced the expression of E-cadherin, while that of N-cadherin, Snail and Slug was reduced to a greater extent compared to Dp alone, signifying that Dp prevents metastasis in OS cells by downregulating the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway (
Increased expression of human glyoxalase I (an enzyme involved in detoxification of methylglyoxal, which is highly reactive and involved in apoptosis) has been demonstrated in many tumors such as those of the colon, prostate, and lungs. According to an
In an interesting study, treatment of human leukemia cell line (HL-60) with Dp at minimal doses resulted in cell death within a 24-h period. However, treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines (SMMC7721, HCCLM3, and MHCC97L) with Dp and Cy3R proved to be insignificant, as Dp was not able to stimulate apoptosis. However, treatment with Dp and Cy3R led to formation of vacuoles within HCC cells, which was related to their free radical scavenging activity and autophagic degradation. Dp was unable to provoke endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, as the expression of proteins like ATF-4, CHOP, and Bip remained unaffected. 3-methyladenine- (autophagy inhibitor) and bafilomycin A1-averted Dp stimulated cellular vacuolization, confirming the cause to be autophagic degradation. Results from an immunoblot assay confirmed the enhanced expression of LC3-II protein and supported the fact that Dp can induce autophagy in SMMC7721 cells. Co-treatment with Dp and 3-methyl adenine effectively induced necrosis (50% cell death observed in a 48-h period) in HCC cells, and no caspase activity was recorded, suggesting no apoptotic cell death (
Lim et al. investigated the role of Dp in inhibiting EGF-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HCC. Dp was noted to exhibit dose-dependent anti-proliferative effects against Huh7 and PLC/PRF/5 cells. It also inhibited EGF-induced morphological changes from epithelial to mesenchymal s in HCC primarily by inhibition of EGFR/AKT/ERK signaling pathway (
Kang et al. demonstrated the usefulness of Dp in treatment of urinary bladder cancer. Dp showed promising anti-proliferative actions against T24 cell lines. Dp produced a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect (IC50 of 34 μg/ml) by apoptosis induction and ROS generation in cancer cells (
Dp acts synergistically with a variety of well-known anticancer agents. Synergistic anticancer effects have been observed with Dp and some drugs. The combination of Dp, cisplatin, and paclitaxel enhanced cytotoxicity by 50%, and Dp also boosted the activity of cisplatin against ES2 cells. The combination of Dp (10 μM) and paclitaxel (20 μM) proved to be more effective against SKOV3 cells than paclitaxel alone (
Anthocyanins, in particular Dp, possess a broad range of biological activity, especially anti-inflammatory effect. Dp is reported to be a specific histone acetyltransferase (HAT) inhibitor of p300/CBP acetyltransferase and effective in ameliorating symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It has also been documented that histone deacetylase, histone methyltransferase, and sirtuin 1 activities are unaffected by Dp treatment. Dp, at a high concentration (100 μM), also averted cell viability (30%) in human RA synovial cell line (MH7A), and downregulated the mRNA and protein expressions of NF-κB p65 subunit and decreased cytokine production by inhibiting TNF-α and provoking p65 expression (
Dp-3S, a major anthocyanin present in dried calyces of
Dp is also effective in treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI)-induced inflammation in an SD rat model with depleted Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) score. Dp at a dose of 200 mg/kg treatment for 21 days resulted in elevation of BBB scores and subsequent lowering of intramedullary spinal pressure compared to a control group. The anti-inflammatory effects could be due to significant drop in COX-2 and PGE2 level (
Nasal polyps are non-cancerous benign lesions arising from the mucosa of nasal sinuses or nasal cavity characterized by extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation. Nasal polyp-derived fibroblast, upon treatment with Dp (0–20 μM), showed suppression of the mRNA expression marker of myofibroblasts (α-SMA) and extracellular matrix proteins (collagen and fibronectin) (
Neurological diseases, specifically Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, are directly correlated to oxidative stress. Dp exhibits neuroprotective activity against hypoxia (
The 3-O-β-galactoside of Dp has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and its presence was detected in various regions of the brain in experimental animals, indicating its potential in treatment of various disorders related to the brain. Dp, at different concentrations (4, 20, and 100 μg/ml) could attenuate neurotoxicity stimulated by the administration of amyloid beta (Aβ) in PC12 cells. Pretreatment with Dp (20 μg/ml) was also shown to reduce the Aβ-induced stimulation of phosphorylated GSK-3β and tau (elevated levels involved in pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease) levels (
Treatment with Dp for 25 days in rats with lesions of nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) led to normalization of body weight. In a Morris water maze test, Dp-treated rats reached the hidden platform 3 times faster than rats with NBM lesions, signifying better spatial memory, movement control, and cognitive mapping. Furthermore, significant reduction in ROS and AChE activity and levels of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Aβ protein of rats with NBM lesions was noted after Dp treatment in the hippocampal area. Molecular docking studies confirmed that Dp bound to the active site of AChE and to Aβ protein with a binding energy of −8.11 and −9.43 Kcal/mol, respectively. A decline in deposits of Aβ plaque in Dp-treated rats was also noted because of efficient binding of Dp with the Aβ protein (
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is an important component of renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which is involved in regulation of blood pressure. Anthocyanin-rich fractions extracted from
Dp, Cy, and quercetin, at a dose of 100 μM, exhibited an ACE inhibitory activity comparable to that of a clinically used ACE inhibitor, captopril (10 μM), in human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells. Pretreatment with Dp, Cy, and quercetin was also able to avert the steroid-induced elevation of ACE levels. RT-qPCR data revealed that the mRNA expression of ACE and renin was suppressed by Dp, Cy, and quercetin, and that captopril enhanced renin mRNA expression. Dp and Cy also inhibited the ACE protein expression in HEK-293 cells. Angiotensin II-provoked AT1R internalization was unaffected by pretreatment with Dp, Cy, and quercetin. On the other hand, losartan inhibited it, signifying that these compounds do not interfere with the angiotensin II receptor (AR) pathway (
Administration of Dp (15 mg/kg/day) for a period of 8 weeks in mice was shown to avert cardiac hypertrophy, oxidative stress, and cardiac dysfunction with no signs of toxicity. Furthermore, Dp was noted to reduce myocardial fibrosis and controlled the enhanced mRNA levels of collagen I, collagen III, and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the cardiac extracellular matrix induced by high Ang II levels caused by TAC. Activation of AMPK by Dp led to hindrance in the expression of NOX subunits (p47phox) and, therefore, reduction in Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Upregulated levels of Erk1/2, Jnk1/2, and p38 due to TAC were controlled by Dp administration, signifying the role of Dp in MAPK pathway. In aged mice, Dp demonstrated to be effective in reducing the visible characteristics of aging and incidence of cardiac hypertrophy by reduction in superoxide production and NOX activity, and regulation of the AMPK/NOX/MAPK signaling pathway (
Anthocyanins potentially modulate carbohydrate metabolism and blood glycemic levels, and help reduce many cardiovascular risk factors (
Oral pre-administration of black currant extract (5 mg/kg) containing 1 mg Dp-3-R/kg in STZ-induced diabetes in rats showed decrease in blood glucose levels at 30- and 60-min intervals, rise in serum insulin, and elevation in GLP-1 level at 15- and 30-min intervals after IP glucose (2 g/kg) injection. An HPLC analysis revealed that nonsignificant concentrations of Dp-3R degradation products like Dp, gallic acid, and phlorogucinol aldehyde were present in the GI tract. Furthermore, an analysis demonstrated that individual administration of Dp-3R degradation products (Dp, GA, and PGA) was not able to stimulate GLP-1 secretion in GLUTag cells, indicating that the anthocyanin form of Dp-3R present in black currant extract is responsible for controlling blood glucose levels, and that it is not degraded until after 45-60 min of black currant extract administration (
Human interventional studies also concluded that high doses of anthocyanins have a potential in prevention and management of type 2 diabetes and further warrant deeper analyses to claim their benefits for use in human (
Osteoclast precursors (RAW 264.7 cells), upon treatment with anthocyanins (Cy, Dp, and Pg at a dose of 0.25–20 μg/ml) extracted from bilberry and blackcurrant, exhibited significant decrease in RANKL (which stimulates osteoclast formation) expression and osteoclast formation.
Dp-3R, isolated from
Dp has the ability to activate cytoprotective autophagy in order to protect chondrocytes against H2O2-induced oxidative stress
An effect of Dp on muscle atrophy has been reported. Dp has the ability to effectively supress mechanical unloading-induced muscle weight loss. Dp treatment was able to reverse muscle atrophy induced by tail suspension method in C57BL/6 J mice. Dp also prevented the enhanced expression of genes involved in antioxidation, redox regulation, and ROS, ubiquitin ligase, and protein degradation in atrophic mice. Elevated expression of Cbl-b (RING-type ubiquitin ligase, elevated in muscle atrophy) in C2C12 myotubes due to dexamethasone (glucocorticoid) was also controlled by Dp treatment (
Dp at a dose of 80 μM, significantly suppresses the proliferation of normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) and then initiates apoptosis. However, at a dose of 10–40 μM, Dp did not alter the expression of genes involved in the apoptotic pathway. A 3D epidermal equivalent model showed that Dp treatment enhanced the expression of caspase 14 and keratin 1 (
Topical application of Dp (0.5 and 1 mg/cm2 skin area) on psoriasis from lesions present on the flaky skin of mice significantly decreased the lesions and provoked the expression of proteins that are downregulated in psoriasis like caspase-14. Dp-treated mice exhibited reduction in infiltrating macrophages around the epidermis and prevented protein production and mRNA expression of various inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α (
Dp promotes Nrf2 nuclear translocation and leads to increase expression of antioxidant protein HO-1, which is an Nrf2-related phase II enzyme heme oxygenase-I present in HepG2 cells. This confirms the hepatoprotective effect of Dp and its role in regulation of the expression of Nrf2/HO-1 to protect HepG2 cells (
Dp is considered as a new inhibitor of hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry in a pangenotypic manner by acting directly on viral particles and impairing their attachment to the surface of cells (
Patients has been granted for PD pertaining to innovation in isolation technique and cosmetic and therapeutic uses. Dp is patented to combat melanoma cells, as an immunosuppressant ingredient in formulation, as an anti-infective agent, and for preventing hair loss, etc. Details of various patents granted for Dp are presented in
Dp is one of the major and bioactive plant pigments with six hydroxy groups present in the flavylium ion. It occurs in both anthocyanin and anthocyanidin forms in berries (blueberry, billberry), concord grapes, blackcurrant, roselle, some tropical fruits, vegetables (eggplant), roots, cereals and wine. Dp (anthocyanidin) is found in nature linked to a variety of sugar moieties, such as glucose, arabinose, galactose, and sambubiose, in the C-3 position (anthocyanin form). Although Dp is more active in its anthocyanidin form, the presence of sugar moiety in the 3rd position in ring C is also vital for its bioavailability. Because of its wide therapeutic spectrum, it has been used along with other nutraceuticals and as a dietary supplement. A brief summary of the reviewed literature in this article highlights the biosynthesis, laboratory synthesis, and stability profiling of Dp. Various glycosides of Dp are extracted in combination with a variety of anthocyanins by a number of extraction and purification techniques; isolation, analysis, and characterization of Dp have been performed using semi-preparative HPLC, UPLC, UV-visible spectroscopy, ESI-MS, IR, and NMR analytical techniques. Several patents have been granted for Dp research that are related to its (i) synthesis, (ii) isolation and analysis, (iii) use in cosmetics, and (iv) therapeutic use as anticancer, antimicrobial, and immunosuppressant, etc. Findings on biosynthetic pathways, chemical synthesis, isolation, and quantitative analysis techniques presented in this review will open pathways and guide researchers to conduct more significant studies on Dp to improve its utility in the cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical industries.
Dp is highly stable under acidic conditions but unstable under intestinal and neutral pH conditions. Dp, upon thermal degradation and under alkaline stressed conditions, produces gallic acid and phloroglucinaldehyde. Dp suffers from low oral bioavailability compared to other bioactive polyphenolic secondary metabolites such as anthocyanidins and flavonoids. Low bioavailability reduces its clinical utility and, therefore, poses a major challenge to the scientific community. However, efforts have been made to improve its bioavailability as well as stability under alkaline conditions through complexation with cyclodextrins and/or by preparing microencapsulation and nano-formulations for optimized delivery
Dp is being recognized as a potent lead in the discovery and development of therapies for treatment of a variety of critical health conditions such as COVID-19. Intensive investigation is ongoing to unlock the hidden potential and diverse biological activities of Dp beyond its usage as a natural pigment, especially the broad spectrum anticancer and antiviral activities. Findings of various studies have demonstrated that Dp in both forms,
Several studies have also shown Dp to exert beneficial effects on the gut microbiome population. It promoted the proliferation of oxygen-sensitive bacterial population by decreasing oxygen tension in gut lumens. It also significantly enhanced the proliferation of
The meticulous investigation of various published literature confirmed the fact that Dp in its anthocyanidin and anthocyanin forms is a promising therapeutic candidate for scientific research beyond nutrition. However, because of lack of proper clinical data, the true potential of Dp is yet to be established.
AH, SK, UMD, MA, AAA, and AA significantly contributed in the preparation of the manuscript. SK and UMD prepared the figures and tables. AH and SK equally contributed to complete the chemistry part of the manuscript. HC and AA did the revision of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
This research study was funded by Institutional Fund Projects under Grant No. IFPRP:578-156-1442. Therefore, the authors gratefully acknowledge the technical and financial support from the Ministry of Education and King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at:
alkaline phosphatase
alanine aminotransferase
aspartate aminotransferase
AMP-activated protein kinase
B-cell lymphoma 2
binding energy
bromodeoxyuridine/5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine
cysteine aspartyl-specific proteases
8-cell counting kit-8
cholinesterase
cyclooxygenase-2
diode array detector
2 Fde array detectorecific prote
delphinidin
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
electrophoretic mobility shift assay
extracellular-signal regulated kinases
electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
fluorescence-activated cell sorting
glutathione
oxidized glutathione
histone deacetylase
human epidermal growth factor receptor-2
hepatocyte growth factor
high-performance liquid chromatography
interferon gamma
interleukin
inducible nitric oxide synthase
infrared spectroscopy
lipopolysaccharide
mitogen activated protein kinase
matrix metalloproteinase
5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide
5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium]
mammalian target of rapamycin
nuclear factor-t
nuclear magnetic resonance
NADPH oxidase
osteoprotegerin
poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase
proliferating cell nuclear antigen
prostaglandin E2
phosphoinositide-3 kinase
quantitative polymerase chain reaction
receptor activator of nuclear factor-nophenyl)
reactive oxygen species
reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction
structure-based virtual screening
sulforhodamine B
streptozotocin
tert-butyl hydroperoxide
transmission electron microscopy
tumor necrosis factor alpha
triple quaropole
terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling
ultra performance liquid chromatography
ultraviolet
vascular endothelial growth factor
Western blot analysis.