Antioxidative activity of the anthocyanin pigments cyanidin 3-O-β-D-glucoside and cyanidin

The antioxidative activity of the anthocyanin pigments cyanidin 3-O-β-D-glucoside (C3G) and cyanidin (Cy) was examined by using linoleic acid autoxidation, liposome, rabbit erythrocyte membrane, and rat liver microsomal systems. C3G and Cy had antioxidative activity in all systems. Cy had a stronger activity than C3G and the same activity as α-tocopherol (Toc) in the liposome and rabbit erythrocyte membrane systems. In the rat liver microsomal system, Cy and C3G exhibited stronger activity than Toc. These data suggest that the pigments may play an important role in the prevention of lipid peroxidation of cell membranes induced by active oxygen radicals in living systems as dietary antioxidants after ingestion