indole

American  

[in-dohl] / ˈɪn doʊl /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless to yellowish solid, C 8 H 7 N, having a low melting point and a fecal odor, found in the oil of jasmine and clove and as a putrefaction product from animals' intestines: used in perfumery and as a reagent.

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indole British  

/ ˈɪndəʊl, -dɒl, ˈɪndəʊl /

noun

1. a white or yellowish crystalline heterocyclic compound extracted from coal tar and used in perfumery, medicine, and as a flavouring agent; 1-benzopyrrole. Formula: C 8 H 7 N

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indole Scientific  

/ ĭn′dōl′ /

1. A white crystalline compound obtained from coal tar or various plants and produced by the bacterial decomposition of tryptophan in the intestine. It is used in the perfume industry and as a reagent. Chemical formula: C ₈ H ₇ N.

2. Any of various derivatives of this compound.

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Etymology

Origin of indole

First recorded in 1865–70; ind- + -ole ²

Example Sentences

The paper concludes that "blockade of indole generation may present a unique therapeutic pathway" for rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis.

From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2024

Maize plants form special compounds derived from indole, the so-called benzoxazinoids.

From Science Daily • Oct. 9, 2023

The putrescence comes from the molecule indole, which is in certain flowers like orange blossom and magnolia, as well as in excrement.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2022

This is in part the work of indole, an aromatic compound present in foul-smelling substances like coal tar and feces, which in trace amounts gives the most delicate of flowers an almost animal opulence.

From New York Times • Oct. 11, 2021

In 1820 was published his treatise on the gospel of St John, entitled Probabilia de Evangelii el Epistolarum Joannis Apostoli indole et origine, which attracted much attention.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 "Brescia" to "Bulgaria" by Various