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This water-soluble plant pigment possesses a standard biological structure for a phytochemical — a naturally occurring chemical compound found in plants. The exact shade of color cyanidin will produce in plants — reds, reddish-blues, or reddish-oranges — is entirely dependent on how much pH is in the solution. The skin of a red fruit contains the highest concentrated levels of cyanidin. It is found in an array of fruits and vegetables, including grapes, cherries, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, apples, plums, red cabbage, and red onions.

Since cyanidin has been found to greatly reduce oxidative damage to cells, research has suggested that it may also be an important factor in fighting heart disease and cancer. By slowing down cancer cell development and reducing production rates of cancer cells, cyanidin could be a key factor in treating leukemia, lung cancer, colon cancer, and other forms of the disease. As a heart disease deterrent, cyanidin hampers the development of reactive oxygen species in the cells, a chief defense in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease.