Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38402948›Full record

ArticleJournal of advanced research2025

Metal-free production of natural blue colorants through anthocyanin-protein interactions.

Wenxin Wang, Peiqing Yang, Fuqing Gao, Yongtao Wang, Zhenzhen Xu, Xiaojun Liao

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of advanced research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
3.9field-weighted citation impact, top 7% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Wenxin WangCollege of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.
Peiqing YangCollege of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.
Fuqing GaoCollege of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.
Yongtao WangCollege of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; National Engineering Research Center for Fruit & Vegetable Processing, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Fruit & Vegetable Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Food Non-thermal Processing, Beijing, China.
Zhenzhen XuCollege of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; Institute of Quality Standard & Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Agro-food Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China. Electronic address: xuzhenzhen@caas.cn.
Xiaojun LiaoCollege of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; National Engineering Research Center for Fruit & Vegetable Processing, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Fruit & Vegetable Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Food Non-thermal Processing, Beijing, China. Electronic address: liaoxjun@cau.edu.cn.
China Agricultural University · CNNanjing Institute of Vegetable Science · CNChinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe scarcity of naturally available sources for blue colorants has driven reliance on synthetic alternatives. Nevertheless, growing health concerns have prompted the development of naturally derived blue colorants, which remains challenging with limited success thus far. Anthocyanins (ACNs) are known for providing blue colors in plants, and metal complexation with acylated ACNs remains the primary strategy to generate stable blue hues. However, this approach can be costly and raise concerns regarding potential metal consumption risks.

objectivesOur study aims to introduce a metal-free approach to achieve blue coloration in commonly distributed non-acylated 3-glucoside ACNs by exploring their interactions with proteins and unveiling the underlying mechanisms.

methodsUsing human serum albumin (HSA) as a model protein, we investigated the structural influences of ACNs on their blue color generation using visible absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence quenching, and molecular simulations. Additionally, we examined the bluing effects of six proteins derived from milk and egg and identified the remarkable roles of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme (LYS).

resultsOur findings highlighted the importance of two or more hydroxyl or methoxyl substituents in the B-ring of ACNs for generating blue colors. Cyanidin-, delphinidin- and petunidin-3-glucoside, featuring two neighboring hydroxyl groups in the B-ring, exhibited blue coloration when interacting with HSA or LYS, driven primarily by favorable enthalpy changes. In contrast, malvidin-3-glucoside, with two methoxyl substituents, achieved blue coloration through interactions with HSA or BSA, where entropy change played significant roles.

conclusionOur work, for the first time, demonstrates the remarkable capability of widely distributed 3-glucoside ACNs to generate diverse blue shades through interactions with certain proteins. This offers a promising and straightforward strategy for the production of ACN-based blue colorants, stimulating further research in this field.

Indexed as

AnthocyaninsColoring AgentsSerum Albumin, HumanAnimalsCattleColorGlucosidesHumansProtein BindingSerum Albumin, BovineAnthocyaninsColoring AgentsGlucosidesSerum Albumin, BovineSerum Albumin, HumanAnthocyaninsBinding interactionsNatural blue colorantsProteins

Identifiers

PMID38402948
PMCPMC11785908
OpenAlexW4392133184

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.