Application of high-speed countercurrent chromatography to the large-scale isolation of anthocyanins

The paper reports the use of anthocyanins as natural food colorants and their potential health benefits regarding coronary heart disease and cancer prevention. The principles of countercurrent chromatography are described and several applications dealing with the isolation of anthocyanins from Tradescantia pallida leaves, purple corn, elderberry juice, red wine and blackberries are presented. Several hundred milligrams of pure anthocyanins were obtained within a single CCC run. Isolated pigments include monoglycosylated, acylated and highly glycosylated derivatives of anthocyanins. Purity and identity of the isolated anthocyanins were confirmed by HPLC with diode array detection, HPLC-electrospray ionization multiple mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.