Anthocyanin-rich extracts from purple and red potatoes as natural colourants: Bioactive properties, application in a soft drink formulation and sensory analysis

Non-covalent binding of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside onto peanut oil body for improved stability: Molecular interactions and properties

Anthocyanins are popular natural food colorants, but instability limits practical use. This study proposed a stabilization strategy through molecular complexation of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) onto peanut oil bodies (POB). Characterization revealed that POBs functionalized with 0.75 mg/100 mL C3G exhibited optimal stability, as evidenced by PDI<0.2. Antioxidant capacity showed progressive enhancement, confirming the preservation of bioactivity. Spectrofluorometric analysis indicated static fluorescence quenching of POBs by C3G, signifying spontaneous complex mediated by weak intermolecular interactions, including van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic attraction. Molecular docking simulations identified ARG-148 in the interfacial domain of the oleosin as the primary binding site for C3G, with hydrogen bonding serving as the dominant stabilizing force (optimal binding energy: -5.1 kcal/mol). XRD corroborated structural reorganization in POB-C3G, featuring reduced crystallinity and enhanced amorphous characteristics. These findings mechanistically elucidated the molecular basis of POB-C3G interactions, suggesting POBs as promising stabilizers for anthocyanin derivatives.

pH-responsive composite konjac glucomannan/xanthan gum film incorporated lysozyme fibril for the monitoring of chicken breast freshness

A pH responsive composite film was developed by incorporating cyanidin (CY) and egg white lysozyme fibril into konjac glucomannan (KGM) and xanthan gum (XG) matrix to monitor the chicken breast freshness in this work. The physicochemical properties of the films, especially pH sensitivity, evaluated by color difference and visual color change under different pH values, were first explored. The freshness changes of chicken breast sealed with the composite films were also analyzed. Hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction formed between the components of the composite film. Moreover, the characterizations of pH responsiveness, thermal stability, and barrier property indicated the benefits of incorporating CY and lysozyme fibril into KGM/XG films. The KGM/XG/lysozyme fibril/CY (KXLCY) film showed superior biodegradability in soil. KXLCY composite film reduced the weight loss and delayed the spoilage and fat oxidation rate of chicken breast. In addition, the color of KXLCY film changed from purple red to purple and then to blue during the storage of the packaged chicken breast, indicating a real-time freshness monitoring effect. This work provided a solid scientific foundation for the development of active pH intelligent colorimetric films and their application in food freshness evaluation.

Developing High-Coloring Natural Systems Using Double Emulsions with Daucus carota L. Extract to Meet High-Performance Requirements

Daucus carota L. extract is attracting interest as a natural colorant alternative. However, the presence of anthocyanins (ACNs), which are sensitive to pH changes, limits its application. To tackle this issue, water-in-oil-in-water (W1/O/W2) double emulsions are emerging as innovative solutions. Nevertheless, the problem of reaching robust colorant systems for industrial use still needs to be overcome. One important target is to reach a high coloring power, minimizing its impact on the final product. In this context, the effect of colorant concentration and the volume of the primary emulsion, two routes to increase the colorant power, on color attributes and stability, an important feature to reach a marketable product, was studied. The optimal experimental design was conducted to two optimal solutions, whether through heightened colorant concentration or primary emulsion volume: a 41/59 (W1/O)/W2 ratio with 11 wt.% colorant, and a 48/52 (W1/O)/W2 ratio with 6 wt.% colorant, respectively. A subsequent assessment of color and physical emulsion stability over 30 days pointed out the solution with the lower colorant concentration (6 wt.%) as the one with better performance (L*: 44.11 ± 0.03, a*: 25.79 ± 0.01, D4;3: 9.62 ± 0.1 µm, and CI: 14.55 ± 0.99%), also minimizing the permeability of the colorant to the outer aqueous phase. Overall, these optimized emulsions offer versatile coloring solutions suitable for various industrial applications, such as food matrices and functional cosmetics.

Recent Advances in Purple Sweet Potato Anthocyanins: Extraction, Isolation, Functional Properties and Applications in Biopolymer-Based Smart Packaging

Petroleum-based plastic packaging materials have negative impacts on the environment and food safety. Natural biopolymer-based food packaging materials are the proper substitutes for plastic-based ones, which is because biopolymers are nontoxic, biodegradable and even edible. The incorporation of bioactive and functional substances into a biopolymer-based film matrix can produce novel smart packaging materials. Anthocyanins, one class of natural colorants with potent antioxidant activity and pH-response color-changing ability, are suitable for producing biopolymer-based smart packaging films. The purple sweet potato is a functional food rich in anthocyanins. In the past decade, numerous studies have reported the extraction of anthocyanins from purple sweet potato and the utilization of purple sweet potato anthocyanins (PSPAs) in biopolymer-based smart packaging film production. However, no specific review has summarized the recent advances on biopolymer-based smart packaging films containing PSPAs. Therefore, in this review, we aim to systematically summarize the progress on the extraction, isolation, characterization, purification and functional properties of PSPAs. Moreover, we thoroughly introduce the preparation methods, physical properties, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, pH sensitivity, stability and applications of biopolymer-based smart packaging films containing PSPAs. Factors affecting the extraction and functional properties of PSPAs as well as the properties of biopolymer-based films containing PSPAs are discussed.

Studying the Stability of Anthocyanin Pigments Isolated from Juices of Colored-Fleshed Potatoes

The aim of this study was to obtain extracts of anthocyanin pigments from red and purple-fleshed potato juices characterized by stable color. For this purpose, potato juices were pasteurized at different temperatures or fruit and vegetable concentrates were added to them. Color stability tests of the obtained pigments were carried out in model pH and temperature conditions and after adding to natural yogurt. Both the pasteurization process and the addition of fruit and vegetable concentrates to the potato juices positively affected their color and its stability in time. However, the pasteurization of the potato juices had a negative effect on the content of biologically active compounds, in contrast to the juices stabilized with the addition of fruit and vegetable concentrates. Anthocyanin pigments from red-fleshed potato juices were more stable than those isolated from the purple-fleshed potato juices. The results of model tests of the anthocyanin pigment concentrates from the colored-flesh potatoes and natural yoghurts with their addition confirmed the high stability of the tested concentrates.

Effects of purple cabbage anthocyanin extract on the gluten characteristics and the gluten network evolution of high-gluten dough

BACKGROUND

Anthocyanins are polyphenolic pigments that have hypoglycemic, antioxidation, anti-aging, and other effects. Research has shown that polyphenols can optimize the processing of dough and improve the texture and nutritional characteristics of dough products. The formation of gluten networks is decisive for the quality of flour products. The effects of purple cabbage anthocyanin (PCA) extract on the structure, microscopic morphology, and network formation of gluten protein were studied, and the types of cross-linking between PCA and gluten protein are discussed.

RESULTS

The results show that PCA extract increased the free sulfhydryl (SH) group content and the free amino group of gluten proteins, stimulated an increase in the β-sheet ratio and the decrease of α-helix ratio, and increased the gluten index significantly (P < 0.05). The PCA extract also induced gluten protein aggregation, increased the height of protein molecular chains, and stimulated the formation of gluten networks. When PCA extract concentrations were 4 g kg-1 and 8 g kg-1, the gluten network was more homogeneous, continuous, and dense.

CONCLUSION

Appropriate anthocyanins have a positive effect on the properties of gluten and promote the formation of gluten networks. Excessive anthocyanins destroy gluten protein interaction and harm gluten cross-linking. This study may provide a useful source of data for the production of functional flour products rich in anthocyanins. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Preparation and characterization of intelligent and active bi-layer film based on carrageenan/pectin for monitoring freshness of salmon

This work aimed to develop and characterize a novel bi-layer film (BIF) for monitoring the freshness of salmon. The indicator layer consists of carrageenan (Car), pectin (PEC) and purple sweet potato anthocyanin (PSPA), and the antibacterial layer consists of Car and magnolol (Mag). The results showed that the Car/Mag2 had the optimal water resistance: the static water contact angle of 80.36 ± 0.92 °, moisture content of 31.38 ± 0.86 %, swelling degree of 92.96 ± 0.46 %, and water solubility of 40.08 ± 1.17 %, and showed excellent antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus with antibacterial rate of 86.13 % ± 0.10 % and 97.53 % ± 0.02 %, respectively. Then BIFs with different PSPA concentration were tested. The morphology, mechanical and water vapor properties (WVP) of the BIFs were studied, and its application in salmon preservation was evaluated. The mechanical properties and WVP test results showed that the BIF0.2 had the optimal Tensile strength (TS) and WVP values. The BIFs showed distinguishable color changes between the pH ranges of 3-10. The shelf life of salmon packaged by BIF0.2 was prolonged by 2 days. Moreover, the BIF0.2 was able to effectively monitor salmon freshness. In conclusion, the BIF has great potential for monitoring salmon meat freshness.

Edible colorimetric label based on immobilized purple sweet potato anthocyanins onto edible film for packaged mushrooms freshness monitoring

An edible colorimetric label has been developed to determine the freshness level of mushrooms, i.e. white oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus). The edible indicator label has been fabricated based on purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) anthocyanins (PSPA) immobilized onto an edible film made of chitosan and cornstarch with added PVA. The freshness parameters of the mushrooms were pH, weight loss, texture, and sensory evaluation. The results showed that the colorimetric label was dark purple when the mushroom was fresh, and turn to light purple when the mushroom was still fresh, and finally green when the mushroom was no longer fresh. The color value (mean Red) of the label was measured using the ImageJ program, where its color value (mean Red) increased with decreasing freshness level of the mushrooms. The edible label can distinguish fresh mushrooms from spoilage, making it suitable to be used in a packaged mushroom as a freshness indicator.

Improving Structural, Physical, and Sensitive Properties of Sodium Alginate-Purple Sweet Potato Peel Extracts Indicator Films by Varying Drying Temperature

Sodium alginate (SA)-purple sweet potato peel extracts (PPE) from industrial waste indicator films were developed at different drying temperatures (25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 55 °C). The effects of drying temperatures on the film's structural, physical, and sensitive properties were investigated. On the structural properties, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction indicated that compactness, intermolecular interactions, and crystallinity of indicator films were improved at a lower drying temperature. On the physical properties, with the drying temperature increasing, elongation at the break increased significantly (p < 0.05); ΔE and water-vapor permeability decreased significantly (p < 0.05); and thickness and tensile strength initially increased significantly (90.46 → 98.46, 62.99 → 95.73) and subsequently decreased significantly (98.46 → 71.93, 95.73 → 55.44) (p < 0.05), with the maximum values obtained at 30 °C. On sensitivity, the corresponding colors of the films became lighter as the drying temperature increased, and the films exhibited relatively excellent pH and NH3 sensitivity, with easily discernible color changes at lower temperatures. The results of this paper revealed that the overall film characteristics are improved at lower drying temperatures, which will provide valuable references for selecting the drying temperature for preparing indicator films as a guide for industrialized production.

Metabolomic analysis, extraction, purification and stability of the anthocyanins from colored potatoes

Colored potatoes have many health benefits because they are rich in anthocyanins. However, the constituent and property of anthocyanins in colored potatoes have not been systematically studied yet. Herein, metabolomic analysis was carried out to investigate the chemical composition of anthocyanins in the four different colored potatoes. After that, the extract and purification conditions, and the stability of the anthocyanins were further studied. The results indicated that the four colored potatoes contained abundant of polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Cyanidin, delphinidin, and malvidin were identified as the major anthocyanidins in purple potatoes, whereas red potatoes were mainly consisted of pelargonidin and its derivatives. 84.47 mg C3GE/100 g DW of anthocyanins was obtained at the optimal conditions, which could be effectively purified macroporous resin of D101. Moreover, the anthocyanins were sensitive to pH, temperature, light, redox agents, and divalent or trivalent metal ions, but stable to sugars and univalent metal ions.

Isolation, Purification and Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity of Anthocyanins and Their Novel Degradation Compounds from Solanum tuberosum L

To explore the composition of anthocyanins and expand their biological activities, anthocyanins were systematically isolated and purified from tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., and their tyrosinase inhibitory activity was investigated. In this study, two new anthocyanin degradation compounds, norpetanin (9) and 4-O-(p-coumaryl) rhamnose (10), along with 17 known anthocyanins and their derivatives, were isolated and purified from an acid-ethanolic extract of fresh purple potato tubers. Their structures were elucidated via 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS and compared with those reported in the literature. The extracts were evaluated for anthocyanins and their derivatives using a tyrosinase inhibitor screening kit and molecular docking technology, and the results showed that petanin, norpetanin, 4-O-(p-coumaryl) rhamnose, and lyciruthephenylpropanoid D/E possessed tyrosinase inhibitory activity, with 50% inhibiting concentration (IC50) values of 122.37 ± 8.03, 115.53 ± 7.51, 335.03 ± 12.99, and 156.27 ± 11.22 μM (Mean ± SEM, n = 3), respectively. Furthermore, petanin was validated against melanogenesis in zebrafish; it was found that it could significantly inhibit melanin pigmentation (p < 0.001), and the inhibition rate of melanin was 17% compared with the normal group. This finding may provide potential treatments for diseases with abnormal melanin production, and high-quality raw materials for whitening cosmetics.

The health-promoting anthocyanin petanin in Lycium ruthenicum fruit: a promising natural colorant

Acylated anthocyanins derived from dietary sources have gained significant attention due to their health-promoting properties and potential as natural colorants with high stability. However, exploration of the functional food products using acylated anthocyanins enriched in fruits and vegetables remains largely delayed in food industries. The black goji (Lycium ruthencium) fruit (LRF) is a functional food that is extensively used due to its exceptionally high levels of acylated anthocyanins, including petanin. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the functional properties and anthocyanin components of LRF. The stability, bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and bioactivities of petanin, the major anthocyanin component, are compared with those of LRF anthocyanin extracts and other food sources. Furthermore, the biosynthetic pathway and regulatory network of petanin in LRF are proposed and constructed, respectively. The key genes that could be potentially used for metabolic engineering to produce petanin are predicted. Finally, the potential application of petanin derivatives in the food industry is also discussed. This review presents comprehensive and systematic information about the dual-function of petanin as a bioactive component and a promising natural colorant for future food industrial applications.

Phenolic-Rich Extracts from Circular Economy: Chemical Profile and Activity against Filamentous Fungi and Dermatophytes

Fungal infections represent a relevant issue in agri-food and biomedical fields because they could compromise quality of food and humans' health. Natural extracts represent a safe alternative to synthetic fungicides and in the green chemistry and circular economy scenario, agro-industrial wastes and by-products offer an eco-friendly source of bioactive natural compounds. In this paper, phenolic-rich extracts from Olea europaea L. de-oiled pomace, Castanea sativa Mill. wood, Punica granatum L. peel, and Vitis vinifera L. pomace and seeds were characterized by HPLC-MS-DAD analysis. Finally, these extracts were tested as antimicrobial agents against pathogenic filamentous fungi and dermatophytes such as Aspergillus brasiliensis, Alternaria sp., Rhizopus stolonifer, and Trichophyton interdigitale. The experimental results evidenced that all extracts exhibited a significant growth inhibition for Trichophyton interdigitale. Punica granatum L., Castanea sativa Mill., and Vitis vinifera L. extracts showed a high activity against Alternaria sp. and Rhizopus stolonifer. These data are promising for the potential applications of some of these extracts as antifungal agents in the food and biomedical fields.

Food Wastes and Microalgae as Sources of Bioactive Compounds and Pigments in a Modern Biorefinery: A Review

The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has created more pressure on countries and society at large for the development of alternative solutions for synthetic and fossil fuel derived products, thus mitigating climate change and environmental hazards. Food wastes and microalgae have been studied for decades as potential sources of several compounds that could be employed in various fields of application from pharmaceutical to textile and packaging. Although multiple research efforts have been put towards extracting rich compounds (i.e., phenolic compounds, tocopherols, and tocotrienols) from these sources, they still remain overlooked as two major sources of bioactive compounds and pigments, mainly due to inefficient extraction processes. Hence, there is a growing need for the development of optimized extraction methods while employing non-organic solvent options following the main principles of green chemistry. This review will focus on delivering a clear and deep analysis on the existing procedures for obtaining bioactive compounds and pigments from food wastes derived from the most consumed and produced fruit crops in the world such as apples, oranges, cherries, almonds, and mangoes, and microalgal biomass, while giving light to the existing drawbacks in need to be solved in order to take full advantage of the rich properties present in these two major biorefinery sources.

Nature's palette: An emerging frontier for coloring dairy products

Consumers all across the world are looking for the most delectable and appealing foods, while also demanding products that are safer, more nutritious, and healthier. Substitution of synthetic colorants with natural colorants has piqued consumer and market interest in recent years. Due to increasing demand, extensive research has been conducted to find natural and safe food additives, such as natural pigments, that may have health benefits. Natural colorants are made up of a variety of pigments, many of which have significant biological potential. Because of the promising health advantages, natural colorants are gaining immense interest in the dairy industry. This review goes over the use of various natural colorants in dairy products which can provide desirable color as well as positive health impacts. The purpose of this review is to provide an in-depth look into the field of food (natural or synthetic) colorants applied in dairy products as well as their potential health benefits, safety, general trends, and future prospects  in food science and technology. In this paper, we listed a plethora of applications of natural colorants in various milk-based products.

Monitoring dynamic changes in chicken freshness at 4 °C and 25 °C using pH-sensitive intelligent films based on sodium alginate and purple sweet potato peel extracts

A pH-sensitive intelligent indicator film was developed and used for monitoring dynamic changes in chicken freshness at 4 °C and 25 °C by immobilizing 0.2 %-1.0 % purple sweet potato peel extracts (PPE) with sodium alginate (SA). The films presented a wide range of colors from red-pink to green-yellow at 2-13, and the films with less PPE were more sensitive to ammonia. The color of films with 0.6 % PPE changed from pink to blue when used in monitoring chicken freshness at 4 °C (5 d) and 25 °C (60 h), which corresponded to changes in total volatile base nitrogen from 5.35 (5.35) mg/100 g to 16.2 (19.9) mg/100 g. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction revealed that PPE improved the compactness and crystallinity of SA films, while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed hydrogen bonds between SA and PPE. Compared to SA films, the water vapor and light barrier abilities of films with 0.6 % were significantly improved (P < 0.05), there was no significant effect on tensile strength (P > 0.05), and the elongation of 0.6 % PPE films (P < 0.05) was decreased. Thus, PPE can serve as an excellent indicator of intelligent films for monitoring the freshness of meat products.

Phytochemical composition, antioxidant activities and immunomodulatory effects of pigment extracts from Wugong Mountain purple red rice bran

The study was to investigate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activities and the immunomodulatory effects on cyclophosphamide-induced (cy-induced) immunosuppressed mice of purple red rice bran pigment extracts (PRBP). The phytochemical composition of total anthocyanins, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were evaluated. Moreover, UV-Vis, FT-IR and UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS spectra analysis identified for the first time the presence of seventeen anthocyanins in PRBP, including five anthocyanin aglycones and twelve acetylated anthocyanins, suggesting that PRBP were a highly acylated anthocyanin profile. The DPPH, ABTS⁺, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and FRAP assays showed that PRBP had excellent antioxidant activities. Further, the results of animal experiments showed that PRBP alleviated immune organ damage and recovered damaged immune function, such as preventing the reduction of body weight, spleen and thymus organ indexes, and significantly increasing the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in spleen which indicated that PRBP alleviated immunosuppression in Cy-induced mice. The immunomodulatory activity of PRBP was reflected by the upregulation of MAPK signaling pathways after gavage. Taken together, these results suggest that PRBP possessed a certain antioxidant and immunomodulatory abilities. These findings will lead to a better understanding of the biological properties of PRBP and broaden its utilization in food processing.

Pigmented Potatoes: A Potential Panacea for Food and Nutrition Security and Health?

Although there are over 4000 potato cultivars in the world, only a few have been commercialized due to their marketability and shelf-life. Most noncommercialized cultivars are pigmented and found in remote regions of the world. White-fleshed potatoes are well known for their energy-enhancing complex carbohydrates; however, pigmented cultivars are potentially high in health-promoting polyphenolic compounds. Therefore, we reveal the comprehensive compositions of pigmented cultivars and associated potential health benefits, including their potential role in ameliorating hunger, food, and nutrition insecurity, and their prospects. The underutilization of such resources is a direct threat to plant-biodiversity and local traditions and cultures.

Sustainable Recovery of Preservative and Bioactive Compounds from Food Industry Bioresidues

With the increasing demand for convenient and ready-to-eat foods, the use of antioxidants and preservative additives in foodstuff formulation is essential. In addition to their technological functions in food, bio-based additives confer beneficial properties for human health for having antioxidant capacity and acting as antimicrobial, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory agents, among others. The replacement of preservatives and other additives from synthetic origin, usually related to adverse effects on human health, faces some challenges such as availability and cost. An opportunity to obtain these compounds lies in the food industry itself, as a great variety of food waste has been identified as an excellent source of high value-added compounds. Large amounts of seeds, fibrous strands, peel, bagasse, among other parts of fruits and vegetables are lost or wasted during industrial processing, despite being rich sources of bioactive compounds. From a circular economy perspective, this work reviewed the main advances on the recovery of value-added compounds from food industry bioresidues for food application. Bioactive compounds, mainly phenolic compounds, have been largely obtained, mostly from seeds and peels, and have been successfully incorporated into foods. Additionally, alternative and eco-friendly extraction techniques, as ultrasound and microwave, have showed advantages in extracting antioxidant and preservatives compounds.

The Compositional Aspects of Edible Flowers as an Emerging Horticultural Product

Edible flowers are becoming very popular, as consumers are seeking healthier and more attractive food products that can improve their diet aesthetics and diversify their dietary sources of micronutrients. The great variety of flowers that can be eaten is also associated with high variability in chemical composition, especially in bioactive compounds content that may significantly contribute to human health. The advanced analytical techniques allowed us to reveal the chemical composition of edible flowers and identify new compounds and effects that were not known until recently. Considering the numerous species of edible flowers, the present review aims to categorize the various species depending on their chemical composition and also to present the main groups of compounds that are usually present in the species that are most commonly used for culinary purposes. Moreover, special attention is given to those species that contain potentially toxic or poisonous compounds as their integration in human diets should be carefully considered. In conclusion, the present review provides useful information regarding the chemical composition and the main groups of chemical compounds that are present in the flowers of the most common species.

Acylated anthocyanins: A review on their bioavailability and effects on postprandial carbohydrate metabolism and inflammation

Anthocyanins, the natural red and purple colorants of berries, fruits, vegetables, and tubers, improve carbohydrate metabolism and decrease the risk factors of metabolic disorders, but their industrial use is limited by their chemical instability. Acylation of the glycosyl moieties of anthocyanins, however, changes the chemical properties of anthocyanins and provides enhanced stability. Thus, acylated anthocyanins are more usable as natural colorants and bioactive components of innovative functional foods. Acylated anthocyanins are common in pigmented vegetables and tubers, the consumption of which has the potential to increase the intake of health-promoting anthocyanins as part of the daily diet. For the first time, this review presents the current findings on bioavailability, absorption, metabolism, and health effects of acylated anthocyanins with comparison to more extensively investigated nonacylated anthocyanins. The structural differences between nonacylated and acylated anthocyanins lead to enhanced color stability, altered absorption, bioavailability, in vivo stability, and colonic degradation. The impact of phenolic metabolites and their potential health effects regardless of the low bioavailability of the parent anthocyanins as such is discussed. Here, purple-fleshed potatoes are presented as a globally available, eco-friendly model food rich in acylated anthocyanins, which further highlights the industrial possibilities and nutritional relevance of acylated anthocyanins. This work supports the academic community and industry in food research and development by reviewing the current literature and highlighting gaps of knowledge.

Anthocyanins Recovered from Agri-Food By-Products Using Innovative Processes: Trends, Challenges, and Perspectives for Their Application in Food Systems

Anthocyanins are naturally occurring phytochemicals that have attracted growing interest from consumers and the food industry due to their multiple biological properties and technological applications. Nevertheless, conventional extraction techniques based on thermal technologies can compromise both the recovery and stability of anthocyanins, reducing their global yield and/or limiting their application in food systems. The current review provides an overview of the main innovative processes (e.g., pulsed electric field, microwave, and ultrasound) used to recover anthocyanins from agri-food waste/by-products and the mechanisms involved in anthocyanin extraction and their impacts on the stability of these compounds. Moreover, trends and perspectives of anthocyanins' applications in food systems, such as antioxidants, natural colorants, preservatives, and active and smart packaging components, are addressed. Challenges behind anthocyanin implementation in food systems are displayed and potential solutions to overcome these drawbacks are proposed.