Monica Jordheim

Stilling: førsteamanuensis

Telefon: 55 58 34 86

E-post: Monica.Jordheim@kj.uib.no

Besøksadresse: Realfagbygget, Allégt. 41

Fields of interest are mainly to enhance scientific knowledge and application value of various anthocyanins and other flavonoids.

Flavonoids, including anthocyanins, have received increased attention during the last fifteen years related to their potential health effects, and they are nowadays regarded as important nutraceuticals. This is caused mainly by their possible antioxidant effects, and they have been given potential therapeutic roles (cardiovascular diseases, cancer treatment, inhibition of certain types of virus including the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), improvement of visual acuity, etc.). There is a worldwide interest in increased use of anthocyanins as a food colorant from natural sources, as a consequence of consumer preferences as well as legislative action in connection with synthetic dyes. Preferred extended use of anthocyanin colours has been a challenge due to the instability of anthocyanins under neutral and slightly acidic conditions.

From precursors among plant pigments found in nature, modified anthocyanins (pyranoanthocyanins) with interesting properties have been produced and analyzed (HPLC, MS, NMR). Positive results related to biological activity has been achieved and further research in this field is on going.

Contrary to what has been concluded in previous literature, we have found that the modified anthocyanins with particular stability under physiologic pH (pyranoanthocyanins), exhibited the highest antioxidant activity ever measured for any anthocyanin.

Present research activities also comprise chemical studies (NMR) of anthocyanin reactivity, to get increased knowledge about the possible anthocyanin transformations in aqueous solution with fluctuating pH conditions. Most antioxidant measurements are concentration dependent, and the purity determination of the examined compounds are crucial. Today many of the different antioxidant measurements have presented contradicting results. Purity studies with water content determination of anthocyanins is studied, among other factors, to enhance the accuracy of anthocyanin concentration in front of antioxidant testing.

In addition the survey for novel compounds from various sources including European, South-American and African plants has resulted in discovery of new groups of plant pigments from several plant sources and further research is on going.

Academic Track Record

01. 2002 - 06. 2003
Master , The degree of Cand. Scient.
Organic Chemistry analysis, Natural Products; Anthocyanins. University of Bergen, Norway

08. 2003 - 06. 2007
Ph.D. Organic Chemistry analysis, Natural Products; Anthocyanins. University of Bergen, Norway. Norwegian Research Council (NFR) fellowship.

06. 2007 - 
Post.doc., Organic Chemistry analysis, Natural Products; Anthocyanins. University of Bergen, Norway.

Teaching experience

01. 2005 - 06. 2005, 01. 2006 - 06. 2006 and 01. 2007 - 06. 2007 
Part Time (50%-80%)

01.2008 - 06.2008 (Full Time)

Engagement Level: Master
Description: Organic analysis (chromatography and spectrometry), KJEM230, with respect to teaching and laboratory exercise. The students attending the class are at Bachelor and Master level.

Publikasjoner i Cristin

Type: PhD thesis "Isolation, identification and properties of pyranoanthocyanins and anthocyanin forms", Date: 22.06.2007

Type: Full paper (selected)
1) Jordheim, M., Fossen, T., and Andersen, Ø.M. Preparative Isolation and NMR Characterization of Carboxypyranoanthocyanins, J. Agric. Food Chem., 54 , 3572-3577, 2006.

2) Byamukama, R.,  Jordheim, M., Kiremire, B., Steigen, A., and Andersen, Ø.M. Anthocyanins from flowers of Hippeastrum cultivars, Sci. Hort., 109 , 262-266, 2006.

3) Jordheim, M., Fossen, T., and Andersen, Ø.M. Characterization of hemiacetal forms of anthocyanin 3-O-glycopyranosides, J. Agric. Food Chem., 54, 9340-9346, 2006. 

4) Jordheim, M., and Andersen, Ø.M. Anthocyanins in Caprifoliaceae, Biochem. Syst. Ecol., 35, 153-159, 2006. 

5) Jordheim, M., Måge, F., and Andersen, Ø.M. Anthocyanins in berries of Ribes including gooseberry culitvars with high content of acylated pigments, J. Agric. Food Chem., 55, 5529-5535, 2007.  

6) Jordheim, M., Aaby, K., Fossen, T., Skrede, G., and Andersen, Ø.M. Molar absorptivities and reducing capacity of pyranoanthocyanins and other anthocyanins, J. Agric. Food Chem., 55, 10591-10598, 2007. 

7) Jordheim, M., Fossen, T., Songstad, J., and Andersen, Ø.M. Reactivity of anthocyanins and pyranoanthocyanins. Studies on aromatic hydrogen–deuterium exchange reactions in methanol, J. Agric. Food Chem., 55, 8261-8268, 2007.

Type: Chapters in Books
Andersen, Ø.M. and Jordheim, M. (2006) The Anthocyanins. In: Flavonoids - Chemistry, Biochemistry and Applications (Andersen, Ø.M. and Markham, K.R.), Chap. 10 , Pages 471-552, CRC Press.

Andersen, Ø.M. and Jordheim, M. (2009) Chemistry of flavonoid-based colors in plants. In: Comprehensive Natural Products II: Chemistry and Biology (L.N. Mander and H.-W. 
Liu, eds. in Chief) Elsevier, Oxford, In Press.

Type: Communication (selected)
1) Torgils Fossen, Kjell Torskangerpoll, Monica Jordheim and Øyvind M. Andersen " Characterization of pyranoanthocyanins ", Polyphenols communications 2004, poster.

2) Monica Jordheim, Torgils Fossen and Øyvind M. Andersen " NMR characterization of the equilibrium forms of anthocyanin 3-glucosides in deuterated methanolic solutions without acid ", Polyphenols communication 2006, poster.

3) Monica Jordheim, Torgils Fossen and Øyvind M. Andersen " Structural NMR characterization of equilibrium forms of anthocyanin 3-glucosides in pure deuterated methanolic solution ", Polyphenols communications 2006, poster. 

4) Monica Jordheim, Torgils Fossen and Øyvind M. Andersen "Properties of anthocyanins expressed through structure details", Nordic Natural Products Conference 2007, presentation.

5) Monica Jordheim, Torgils Fossen, Helen Lunder, Jon Songstad and Øyvind M. Andersen ”Hydrogen-deuterium exchange rates of various anthocyanin classes as basis for reactivity studies”, ICP2008 Salamanca, presentation.