Malvidin

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A natural pigment belonging to the anthocyanin group responsible for red, purple, and blue colors in plants; a compound found in grape skins and various fruits; used as a natural food coloring agent
2. A type of plant-based pigment classified as an anthocyanin that imparts coloration in fruits and flowers; found notably in berries and grapes; utilized for its coloring properties in food products
3. An anthocyanin pigment prevalent in many fruits that produces vivid red to purple hues; present in the skin of grapes contributing to wine color; applied in natural dyeing and food industries

Etymology: Malvidin is a chemical name, and its story lies in the plant that gave it its name. It was named after the mallow genus, "Malva," the plants whose flowers were the first place chemists studied this kind of pigment. The "-idin" ending follows the naming pattern chemists used for anthocyanidins, the non-sugar core of anthocyanin pigments, and the "-in" ending is the same one found in many other coloring compounds. "Malva" itself is an ancient word, borrowed into Latin from Greek "malakhē," which referred to the mallow plant and was related to the word for soft, a nod to the plant's soft leaves. Malvidin is one of the main anthocyanidins in red wine, grape skins, and blueberries, and the flower color of many plants depends on it. Because it is stable enough to survive processing, it is one of the pigments food makers rely on when they want a deep red or purple color.

Synonyms: flavonoid, anthocyanin