Purple corn anthocyanins from an integral valorization perspective: advances in extraction, stabilization, biological activities, and emerging food and packaging applications

Background Purple corn ( Zea mays L.) is a relevant source of anthocyanins distributed across kernels, pericarp, cobs, husks, silks, floral structures, and derived agro-industrial by-products. These pigments are valued for their intense coloration, bioactive potential, and applicability as natural colorants, functional ingredients, and active or intelligent packaging agents. Scope and approach This review critically integrates recent advances in the characterization, extraction, stabilization, functional evidence, and technological applications of purple corn anthocyanins. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between plant fraction, molecular profile, extraction strategy, pigment stability, bioaccessibility, and performance in food and packaging systems. Key findings and conclusions Recent studies show that emerging extraction technologies, including ultrasound, microwave, infrared, high-pressure, and supercritical fluid processes, together with hydroethanolic systems and deep eutectic solvents, can improve anthocyanin recovery and reduce processing time. However, extraction performance must also consider pigment stability, chromatic properties, solvent safety, purification requirements, and scalability. Purple corn anthocyanins are mainly cyanidin, pelargonidin, and peonidin derivatives, including acylated forms that may influence stability and biological activity. Encapsulation, copigmentation, and complexation with biopolymers have improved stability, bioaccessibility, and technological performance, although validation in real food matrices remains limited. Functional evidence suggests antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, glucolipid-modulating, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and microbiota-related effects, but most findings derive from enzymatic, cellular, and animal models. Future progress requires standardized reporting, realistic processing and storage studies, sensory and safety evaluation, regulatory assessment, and scalable strategies that connect fraction selection with application-specific performance.