Xanthophyll
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Xanthophylls (originally phylloxanthins) are yellow pigments of oxycarotenoid type, from the carotenoid group. They are found in the leaves of most plants and are synthesized within the plastids. They are involved in photosynthesis along with green chlorophyll, which typically covers up the yellow except in autumn, when the chlorophyll is denatured by the cold.
In plants, xanthophylls are considered accessory pigments, along with anthocyanins, carotenes, and sometimes phycobiliproteins. Xanthophylls, along with carotenic pigments are seen when leaves turn orange in the autumn season.
Animals cannot produce xanthophylls, and thus xanthophylls found in animals (e.g. in the eye) come from their food intake. The yellow color of chicken egg yolks also comes from ingested xanthophylls.
Xanthophylls are oxidized derivatives of carotenes. They contain hydroxyl groups and are more polar; therefore, they are the pigments that will travel the most in paper chromatography.
The group of xanthophylls is composed of lutein, zeaxanthin, and α- and β-cryptoxanthin.da:Xantofyl de:Xanthophylle es:Xantofila eo:Ksantofilo fr:Xanthophylle mk:Ксантофил nl:Xantofyl pt:Xantofila sv:Xantofyll
