Characteristic Anthocyanin Pattern from Onions and other Allium spp

Three red onion ( Allium cepa ) cultivars, top onion ( A. cepa var. vivi‐parum ), A. altaicum and chive ( A. schoenoprasum ) contained several or all of the following anthocyanins: 3‐(6′‐malonyl‐3′‐glucosylglucoside), 3‐(3′,6′‐dimalonylglucoside), 3‐(6′‐malonylglucoside), 3‐(3′‐malonyl‐glucoside), 3‐(3′‐glucosylglucoside) and 3‐glucoside of cyanidin. Trace amounts of two pelargonidin derivatives and the 3,5‐diglucosides of cyanidin and peonidin were for the first time reported in red onion. Carbon NMR data showed that the sugars of the 3‐(6′‐malonyl‐3′‐glu‐cosylglucoside), 3‐(6′‐malonylglucoside) and 3‐glucoside of cyanidin were pyranoses. Substitution either by sugar or acid in the sugar 3‐position of an anthocyanin has never been reported outside the genus Allium .