Characterization of anthocyanins from the fruits of baguacu (Eugenia umbelliflora Berg)

Anthocyanin pigments in the berries of baguacu (Eugenia umbelliflora Berg), a tropical fruit from Brazil, were extracted with 0.1% HCl in ethanol, and the crude anthocyanin extract was purified by Amberlite XAD-7 open-column chromatography. Six major anthocyanins were isolated by preparative HPLC, and their chemical structures were identified by spectroscopic methods (TLC, UV-vis, MS, and H-1 NMR). Delphinidin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, cyanidin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, petunidin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, pelargonidin 3-0-beta-glucopyranoside, peonidin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, and malvidin 3-beta-glucopyranoside were identified. On the basis of chromatographic data the total anthocyanin content was 342 mg/100 g of fresh baguacu berries. Therefore, the concomitant presence of six anthocyanins in a single plant species makes this product promising as a new pigment source.