Chapter 3: Extraction of Anthocyanins from Natural Sources – Methods and Commercial Considerations

Anthocyanins are naturally occurring pigments, associated with the prevention of many diseases. Owing to their natural properties, antioxidant activities, health benefits, and possible vast range of applications, anthocyanins have received the attention of food manufacturers based on consumer demand in recent decades. Many contributions in the field have been devoted to the optimization of traditional extraction methods and the development of novel techniques for enhancing extraction efficiency, yield, purity, and stability. Despite promising applications in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries, the commercialization of anthocyanins is limited because of the technical challenges involved with yield improvement and stability enhancement. In this chapter, a comprehensive review of conventional and modern extraction and purification approaches for anthocyanins is provided.