Delphinidin

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A natural pigment belonging to the anthocyanidin class responsible for blue to purple coloration in many flowers and fruits ; a chemical compound contributing to antioxidant properties in plants ; a flavonoid molecule involved in plant coloration and potential health benefits
2. A plant-based pigment that produces blue to violet hues in petals and berries ; a bioactive anthocyanidin compound that exhibits antioxidant activity ; a flavonoid responsible for vibrant coloration and possible protective effects in plants and humans
3. An anthocyanidin class pigment that colors many fruits and flowers in shades of blue and purple ; a molecular compound with antioxidant function found in various plants ; a natural flavonoid involved in pigment formation and health-promoting effects in botanical sources

Etymology: Delphinidin is a plain technical coinage, built from "delphinid," a term for members of the dolphin family (Delphinidae), with the chemical suffix "-in" added to name a substance. The name points to no dolphin in the pigment itself: it belongs to the anthocyanidin family, the compounds that give many petals, berries and grapes their blue, purple and violet shades. The "delph-" root comes from the Greek "delphis," meaning dolphin, which is the same root behind the dolphin family's scientific name. The chemical class has the same kind of name. Anthocyanidins were named from Greek "anthos" (flower) and "kyanos" (dark blue), and delphinidin is one of several members of that group, distinguished from its relatives by the number of hydroxyl groups on its structure. That structural detail is why it tends to produce bluer tones than some of its close relatives.

Synonyms: anthocyanidin