Pelargonidin is an anthocyanidin, a type of plant pigment producing a characteristic orange color used in food and industrial dyes.

Natural occurrences

Presence in flowers

Pelargonidin can be found in red geraniums (Geraniaceae). It is the predominant pigment causing the red coloration in the spathes of '' Philodendron'' (Araceae). The orange-coloured flowers of blue pimpernel (''

Anagallis monelli ''Lysimachia monelli'', the blue pimpernel or garden pimpernel (formerly known as ''Anagallis monelli'') is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, native to the Mediterranean region. It is not to be confused with '' Lysimachia ...

'', Myrsinaceae) have a higher concentration of pelargonidin pigment. Red and Pink

Rose A rose is either a woody perennial flowering plant of the genus ''Rosa'' (), in the family Rosaceae (), or the flower it bears. There are over three hundred species and tens of thousands of cultivars. They form a group of plants that can be ...

s (Rosa) obtain their color from this phytochemical.

Presence in food

Pelargonidin can be found in berries such as ripe raspberries and

strawberries The garden strawberry (or simply strawberry; ''Fragaria × ananassa'') is a widely grown hybrid species of the genus '' Fragaria'', collectively known as the strawberries, which are cultivated worldwide for their fruit. The fruit is widely ap ...

, as well as

blueberries Blueberries are a widely distributed and widespread group of perennial flowering plants with blue or purple berries. They are classified in the section ''Cyanococcus'' within the genus ''Vaccinium''. ''Vaccinium'' also includes cranberries, b ...

, blackberries,

cranberries Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines in the subgenus ''Oxycoccus'' of the genus ''Vaccinium''. In Britain, cranberry may refer to the native species ''Vaccinium oxycoccos'', while in North America, cranberry m ...

but also in saskatoon berries and chokeberries. It is also found in

plum A plum is a fruit of some species in ''Prunus'' subg. ''Prunus'.'' Dried plums are called prunes. History Plums may have been one of the first fruits domesticated by humans. Three of the most abundantly cultivated species are not found ...

s and pomegranates. Pelargonidin gives red radishes their color. It is present in large amounts in

kidney bean The kidney bean is a variety of the common bean ('' Phaseolus vulgaris''). It resembles a human kidney and thus is named after such. Red kidney beans should not be confused with other red beans, such as adzuki beans. Classification There ar ...

Glycosides

In many plant systems, Pelargonidin can be added to a glucose molecule to form Pelargonidin 3-glucoside (callistephin). This is done by the 3GT, anthocyanin 3-O-glucosyltransferase gene. Pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside

However this glucosidation reduces its antioxidant activity, and changes the wavelength of max light absorbance from 520 nm to 516 nm. Acylated pelargonidin glycosides can be found in red-purple flowers of ''

Ipomoea purpurea ''Ipomoea purpurea'', the common morning-glory, tall morning-glory, or purple morning glory, is a species in the genus ''Ipomoea'', native to Mexico and Central America. Description Like all morning glories, the plant entwines itself around str ...

''.

References

External links