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This Month's Plant and Phytochemical

Rubus fructicosus / Blackberry

Rubus fructicosus / Blackberry

Rubus fructicosus

Blackberry

Rubus fructicosus (Blackberry) belongs to the family of Rosaceae, a berry-bearing fruit plant. The genus Rubus consists of several species including Rubus idaeus (Raspberry), Rubus occidentalis (Black raspberry), Rubus fruticosus (Blackberry), Rubus chamaemorus (Cloudberry), Rubus loganobaccus (Loganberry), Rubus phoenicolasius (Wineberry), Rubus spectabilis (Salmonberry), Rubus caesius (Dewberry), Rubus parviflorus (Thimbleberry), Rubus arcticus (Arctic raspberry), Rubus odoratus (Flowering raspberry), Rubus leucodermis (Whitebark raspberry or Western Raspberry). Rubus fructicosus contain numerous phytochemicals including anthocyanidins. In traditional medicines, Rubus fructicosus has been used as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents for treating sore throats, cold, infections and inflammation. In culinary purposes, blackberry is used as a good source for producing home-made jam and others.

Cyanidin / Anthocyanidin

Cyanidin

287

C15H11O6+

Anthocyanidins are phytochemicals belonging to a subclass of flavonoids. Anthocyanidins (e.g., aurantinidin, cyanidin, delphinidin, europinidin, luteolinidin, pelargonidin, malvidin) are commonly present in plants as stable glycosylated forms (Anthocyanins). Anthocyanidins are abundantly found in deep color fruits and vegetables (e.g., Sambucus Canadensis, Ipomoea asarifolia, Acalypha hispida, Acer platanoides, Petunia exserta, Glehnia littoralis, Fragaria × ananassa, Rubus occidentalis, Raphanus sativus, Phaseolus vulgaris, Fragaria ananassa, Punica granatum, Morus nigra, Ruscus aculeatus, Matthiola incana). In plants, anthocyanidins are synthesized via multiple enzymatic processes from phenylalanine and malonyl-CoA. Briefly, respective 4-coumaroyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA from phenylalanine and malonyl-CoA yield naringenin, a precursor for anthocyanidins. In biological activities, anthocyanidins and anthocyanins are believed to have numerous biological activities such as cardioprotective, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antiangiogenic, and anticarcinogenic activities.

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