Antioxidant ability of anthocyanins against ascorbic acid oxidation

Abstract

Oxidation of ascorbic acid by metal ions like copper was prevented by addition of anthocyanin (cyanidin derivative). Previous reports attributed the ability of flavonoid to protect ascorbate oxidation to the metal complexing properties of these compounds. We provide evidence that anthocyanin not only chelates metal ions, but also forms an ascorbic acid (copigment)-metal anthocyanin complex, which could be the possible protection mechanism.