fucoxanthin

[fyoo-koh-zan-thin]

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a brown carotenoid pigment occurring in brown algae, diatoms, and dinoflagellates.

fucoxanthin

/ ˌfjuːkəʊˈzænθɪn /

noun

1. a carotenoid pigment that gives brown algae and diatoms their colour: functions in photosynthesis. Formula: C 40 H 56 O 6 or C 40 H 60 O 6

fucoxanthin

1. A brown or olive-green carotenoid pigment, C ₄₀ H ₆₀ O ₆, found in brown algae.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fucoxanthin¹

First recorded in 1870–75; fuc(us) ( def. ) + -o- ( def. ) + xanthin ( def. )

Example Sentences

Fucoxanthin, C40H54O6, is a brownish-red pigment, found in fresh brown algæ, and in some brown sea-weeds.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1912, Willstätter and Isler first showed that the green coloring matter which is extracted from plants by alcohol, ether, etc., is made up of two definite chemical compounds, to which they assigned the names "chlorophyll a" and "chlorophyll b," associated with two yellow pigments, carotin and xanthophyll, and, in some cases, with the reddish-brown fucoxanthin.

From Project Gutenberg

Cent.Total pigment in the dry matter 0.99 0.29 0.21 Proportion of:       Chlorophyll a 63 55 44 Chlorophyll b 22 4 31 Carotin 6 11 7 Xanthophyll 9 10 18 Fucoxanthin   20   The two chlorophylls have the following formulas: chlorophyll a, C55H72O5N4Mg, and chlorophyll b, C55H70O6N4Mg.

From Project Gutenberg

This group includes the two brilliant yellow pigments, carotin and xanthophyll, and the reddish brown fucoxanthin and the brilliant red lycopersicin, which are similar in their chemical composition.

From Project Gutenberg