Anthocyanins: Promising Natural Products with Diverse Pharmacological Activities

Molecules. 2021 Jun 22;26(13):3807. doi: 10.3390/molecules26133807.

Abstract

Anthocyanins are natural products that give color to plants. As natural plant pigments, anthocyanins also have a series of health-promoting benefits. Many researchers have proved that anthocyanins have therapeutic effects on diseases, such as circulatory, nervous, endocrine, digestive, sensory, urinary and immune systems. Additionally, a large number of studies have reported that anthocyanins have an anticancer effect through a wide range of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The anti-disease impact and mechanism of anthocyanins are diverse, so they have high research value. This review summarizes the research progress of anthocyanins on the pharmacological agents of different diseases to provide references for subsequent research.

Keywords: anthocyanin; anti-infection; anticancer; natural products; systemic diseases.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anthocyanins* / chemistry
  • Anthocyanins* / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents* / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Antioxidants* / chemistry
  • Antioxidants* / therapeutic use
  • Biological Products* / chemistry
  • Biological Products* / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Plants / chemistry*

Substances

  • Anthocyanins
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Biological Products