Zeinoxanthin
Chemical compound
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zeinoxanthin is a rare carotenoid[1] with antioxidant properties, commonly found in foods like oranges[2] and also present in the tissues of the human eye.
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| IUPAC name
(1R)-3,5,5-trimethyl-4-[(1E,3E,5E,7E,9E,11E,13E,15E,17E)-3,7,12,16-tetramethyl-18-[(1R)-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-yl]octadeca-1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17-nonaenyl]cyclohex-3-en-1-ol | |
| Other names
Physoxanthin, 3-Hydroxy-alpha-carotene | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| ChEBI | |
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| KEGG | |
PubChem CID |
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| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |
| C40H56O | |
| Molar mass | 552.887 g·mol−1 |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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The word "zeinoxanthin" comes from the Greek words "zeinos", which means "grain", and "xanthus", which means "yellow". The name indicates the presence of this pigment in plants such as corn, in which it can be found.[3]
The compound is closely associated with zeaxanthin and shares comparable antioxidant benefits, playing a role in supporting eye health and shielding against oxidative damage.
Natural occurrence
Isolation
A crystalline carotenoid zeinoxanthin was identified and isolated from yellow maize kernels. The compound was purified from corn gluten through a multi-step process involving solvent extraction, chromatographic separation, and sequential crystallization in benzene-methanol solvent systems.[6]