%0 Journal Article %T Intermolecular copigmentation of anthocyanins with phenolic compounds improves color stability in the model and real blueberry fermented beverage. %A Wang X %A Cheng J %A Zhu Y %A Li T %A Wang Y %A Gao X %J Food Res Int %V 190 %N 0 %D 2024 Aug %M 38945622 %F 7.425 %R 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114632 %X To improve the color stability of anthocyanins (ACNs) in blueberry fermented beverage, the intermolecular copigmentation between ACNs and 3 different phenolic compounds, including (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), ferulic acid (FA), and gallic acid (GA) as copigments, was compared in the model and the real blueberry fermented beverage, respectively. The copigmented ACNs by EGCG presented a high absorbance (0.34 a.u.) and redness (27.09 ± 0.17) in the model blueberry fermented beverage. The copigmentation by the participation of the 3 different phenolic compounds showed all a spontaneous exothermic reaction, and the Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) of the system was lowest (-5.90 kJ/mol) using EGCG as copigment. Furthermore, the molecular docking model verified that binary complexes formed between ACNs and copigments by hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking. There was a high absorbance (1.02 a.u.), percentage polymeric color (PC%, 68.3 %), and good color saturation (C*ab, 43.28) in the real blueberry fermented beverage aged for 90 days, and more malvidin-3-O-glucoside had been preserved in the wine using EGCG as copigment. This finding may guide future industrial production of blueberry fermented beverage with improved color.