Metabolic syndrome develops to several related chronic diseases, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, fatty liver disease. Diseases are outcomes of various cells dysfunction, which are especially acting with a network in metabolic syndrome. Anthocyanins are natural edible pigments widely existed in dark-colored fruits, vegetables, and grains. Epidemiological investigation and nutritional intervention of anthocyanins have exhibited broad-spectrum biological effects that benefit patients with metabolic syndrome related chronic diseases. Whereas the underlying mechanisms and the effects of anthocyanins on critical cells in chronic metabolic diseases are complex and elusive. Therefore, this review summarizes the studies about the effects of anthocyanins on various metabolism related chronic diseases, and mainly focuses on the effects and underlying molecular mechanisms on critical cells. We confirmed that anthocyanins are efficient on adipocytes, endothelial cells, inflammatory cells, hepatocytes, intestinal cells and gut microbiota, but lack of evidence on platelets, skeletal muscle cells, hepatic stellate cells and pancreatic beta cells. Additionally, we discussed the structure-function relationship of anthocyanins and the metabolites. This review summarizes the development of studies on anthocyanins with its target cells in metabolic syndrome, and discusses the unclear aspects of the anthocyanins research work, which is necessary for the future clinical application.

The increased incidence of non-communicable human diseases may be attributed, at least partially, to exposures to toxic chemicals such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), air pollutants and heavy metals. Given the high mortality and morbidity of pollutant exposure associated diseases, a better understanding of the related mechanisms of toxicity and impacts on the endogenous host metabolism are needed. The metabolome represents the collection of the intermediates and end products of cellular processes, and is the most proximal reporter of the body’s response to environmental exposures and pathological processes. Metabolomics is a powerful tool for studying how organisms interact with their environment and how these interactions shape diseases related to pollutant exposure. This mini review discusses potential biological mechanisms that link pollutant exposure to metabolic disturbances and chronic human diseases, with a focus on recent studies that demonstrate the application of metabolomics as a tool to elucidate biochemical modes of actions of various environmental pollutants. In addition, classes of metabolites that have been shown to be modulated by multiple environmental pollutants will be discussed with an emphasis on their use as potential early biomarkers of disease risks. Taken together, metabolomics is a useful and versatile tool for characterizing the disease risks and mechanisms associated with various environmental pollutants.