THE ANTHOCYANIN RESPONSIBLE FOR PURPLISH BLUE FLOWER COLOR OF ACONITUM CHINENSE

The anthocyanin in the purplish blue flowers of Aconitum chinense was identified as delphinidin 3-rutinoside-7-O-(6-O-(4-(6-O-(4-hydroxybenz oyl) -beta-D-glucosyl)oxybenzoyl-beta-D-glucoside), violdelphin by mea ns of chromatography, FAB-MS including MS-MS, H-1 and C-13 NMR. The an thocyanin is stable in neutral or slightly acidic aqueous solution and the absorption spectra in the pH range of 4.0-6.2 exhibited three cha racteristic bands at 534, 569 and 620 nm, which are practically identi cal with those of purplish blue petals of A. chinense. Thus the purpli sh blue flower colour is manifested by intramolecular co-pigmentation of the anthocyanin.