Anthocyanins of grasses

The anthocyanin content of 23 grass species (Poaceae) belonging to five subfamilies has been determined. Altogether 11 anthocyanins were identified; the 3-(6"-malonylglucosides) and 3-glucosides of cyanidin, peonidin and delphinidin, the 3-(3",6"-dimalonylglucoside), 3(6"-rhamnosylglucoside) and 3-(6"-glucosylglucoside) of cyanidin, in addition to peonidin 3-(dimalonylglucoside) and delphinidin 3-(6"-rhamnosylglucoside). Anthocyanins acylated with one and/or two malonic acid moieties dominated the anthocyanin profiles of all the species in the subfamilies Pooideae and Panicoideae. On the other hand, the 3-glucoside and 3-rutinoside of cyanidin were the major anthocyanins in Sinarundinaria murielae (subfamily Bambusoideae) and Molinia caerulea (subfamily Arundinoideae), while the 3-glucosides of cyanidin and peonidin were the principal anthocyanins in rice, Oryza sativum (subfamily Oryzoideae). Pelargonidin derivatives and free anthocyanidins have previously been reported to occur in several Poaceae species, however, not identified in any of the species included in this survey. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.