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Anthoxanthin

Type of flavonoid pigment in plants

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Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
Coyau · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Through Alkali and Nutrition

Anthocyanins are also flavonoids, but their backbone is made of flavylium instead of the flavone and flavonol found in anthoxanthins. As a result, they present a blue color instead of the yellow typical of flavonoids (deriving from the Latin word flavus, meaning yellow). This modification requires a special set of genes to perform, making anthocyanins rarer than anthoxanthins in nature.

Uses

As with all flavonoids, anthoxanthins have antioxidant properties and are important for nutrition. They are sometimes used as food additives to add color or flavor to foods. One of the most well-known anthoxanthins is quercetin, which is found in many fruits and vegetables, including capers, red onions, and kale.

In addition to their use as food additives, anthoxanthins are also used in the production of dyes and pigments. Anthoxanthins can also be used to create yellow, orange, or red dyes for use in textiles, cosmetics, and other products.

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