A novel symmetrical pyrano-3-deoxyanthocyanidin from a Sorghum species

Abstract Polyphenols are widespread components of higher plants. Sorghum is rich in polyphenols and known to contain a specific type, 3-deoxyanthocyanins, many of which remain uncharacterised. Here we report the structural determination of a new pigment isolated from red Sorghum bicolor var. bicolor (Moench) and characterised as 8-hydroxy-2-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4″-hydroxyphenyl)-pyrano[4,3,2- de ]1-benzopyrylium by MS, UV–vis and 2D NMR spectroscopy. This new symmetrical pyrano-3-deoxyanthocyanidin, containing apigeninidin as a base unit, displays structural features responsible for higher stability as compared to corresponding anthocyanins.