Cyanidin

/saɪˈæn.ɪ.dɪn/ noun

Definition

One of the most common anthocyanins, a water-soluble pigment that gives red, purple, and blue colors to fruits, flowers, and vegetables.

Etymology

From cyano- (blue) + -idin (suffix for alkaloid compounds). Named for its blue origins, cyanidin was identified in the 1800s as a pigment in plant tissues.

Kelly Says

Cyanidin is why blueberries are blue and why red cabbage turns from red to blue to yellow as you change the pH—it's the same molecule changing color like a chemical mood ring, and it's one of the compounds that makes berries so healthy to eat.

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