Anthocyanin Delivery Systems: A Critical Review of Recent Research Findings

Anthocyanins (ACNs) are polyphenolic, water-soluble pigments, and phytochemicals, which in recent years, have garnered the interest of consumers, researchers, and industries for their various potential preventative and/or therapeutic health benefits and applications in the food industry. ACN-based processed foods have emerged as functional foods with significant therapeutic potential against various health conditions. However, their wider application in food and pharmaceutical formulations is hindered by their inherent instability under different environmental conditions, such as pH, light, and temperature, rendering them non-functional due to loss of biological activity. The current review focuses on the frequently used bio-based encapsulation materials for ACN-based delivery systems and their formulation techniques. Various bio-based materials including pectin, gums, pectin, proteins, lipids, phospholipids, and their conjugates are being widely used for targeted delivery and controlled release of bioactive compounds and drugs. The incorporation of advanced technologies seems to be promising in the context of extraction, encapsulation, and storage of ACNs. However, more comprehensive studies are required for the application of encapsulated ACNs in various food products, and improvements in their stability under different processing conditions.