Anthocyanins of Cornaceae, Cornus kousa Hance and Cornus florida L.1

Abstract

Both Cornus kousa and C florida are dogwood plants widely grown for ornamental purposes. The fruits of G kousa are attractive and edible, and are fermented to wine in parts of China where this plant is grown. Our recent investigation of the anthocyanins in 2 other Cornus species (1, 2, 4) has indicated the presence of 3-robinobiosides of cyanidin and pelargonidin as characteristic pigments in the two species examined. This report describes the isolation and identification of the anthocyanins present in C. kousa and C. florida .