Anthocyanin-mediated epigenetic modifications: a new perspective in health promoting and disease prevention

Epigenetic modifications play a pivotal role in the onset and progression of various diseases and are closely related to diet and environmental factors. Anthocyanins, a common class of dietary polyphenols, possess the potential to promote human health, serve as promising epigenetic modulators.

This review summarizes recent advancements in the role of anthocyanins in health promoting and disease prevention through the modulation of epigenetic modifications, focusing on clinical trials as well as in vivo and in vitro studies. It comprehensively explores the primary functions, specific mechanisms, challenges, and future perspectives of anthocyanins as epigenetic modulators, particularly in the context of DNA methylation, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), and histone modifications.

Anthocyanins-mediated epigenetic modifications primarily influence genome stability, regulate gene expression, and modify chromatin structure, thus contributing to disease prevention and intervention. Anthocyanins are shown to impact DNA methylation patterns, maintaining homeostasis and alleviating abnormal DNA methylation in disease states. Regarding ncRNAs, anthocyanins alter the expression of miRNAs and lncRNAs, thereby modulating transcriptional repression or activation to mitigate the severity of diseases. Beyond DNA methylation and ncRNAs, anthocyanins also regulate histone modifications, promoting health and preventing disease by alleviating the abnormalities of histone-modifying enzymes. The development of targeted delivery systems for anthocyanins, the exploration of the anthocyanins-gut microbiota-epigenetics relationship, the investigation of anthocyanins' effects on intergenerational inheritance, and attention to dietary patterns rich in anthocyanins are crucial areas for future research. Moreover, more extensive and effective clinical trials are needed to facilitate the broader application of anthocyanins in epigenetic-related diseases.