Anthocyanins: Biosynthesis, Distribution, Ecological Role, and Use of Biostimulants to Increase Their Content in Plant Foods—A Review

• Main Authors: Giuseppe Mannino, Carla Gentile, Andrea Ertani, Graziella Serio, Cinzia Margherita Bertea
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
• Series: Agriculture
• Subjects: anthocyanidins; sustainable agriculture; fruit quality; nutraceuticals; antioxidant activity; phytochemicals
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/3/212

In the past century, plant biostimulants have been increasingly used in agriculture as innovative and sustainable practice. Plant biostimulants have been mainly investigated as potential agents able to mitigate abiotic stress. However, few information is available about their ability to influence fruit quality or change fruit phytochemical composition. In particular, very little is known about their effects on anthocyanin synthesis and accumulation. Due to the increasing demand of consumers for healthier foods with high nutraceutical values, this review tries to fill the gap between anthocyanin content and biostimulant application. Here, we elucidate the chemical structure, biosynthetic pathway, plant distribution, and physiological role of anthocyanins in plants. Moreover, we discuss the potential implications for human health derived from the consumption of foods rich in these molecules. Finally, we report on literature data concerning the changes in anthocyanin content and profile after the application of biostimulant products on the most common anthocyanin-containing foods.