Fucoxanthin

Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid, with formula C₄₀H₆₀O₆. It is found as an accessory pigment in the chloroplasts of brown algae and most other heterokonts, giving them a brown or olive-green color. Fucoxanthin absorbs light primarily in the blue-green to yellow-green part of the visible spectrum, peaking at around 510-525 nm by various estimates and absorbing significantly in the range of 450 to 540 nm. Some metabolic and nutritional studies carried at Hokkaido University have demonstrated that brown seaweed (rich in Fucoxanthin) promotes fat burning within fat cells surrounding internal organs. In addition, Fucoxanthin has strong anti-diabetes effects and, by a separate biological mechanism, it appears to kill prostate cancer cells in culture. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1164x267, 22 KB) Summary Description: Chemical structure of Fucoxanthin Author, date of creation: selfmade by Shaddack, 0 January 2006 Source: self-made Copyright: Public Domain (PD) Comments: b/w hires PNG; ChemDraw Licensing File links The following pages on the English... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1164x267, 22 KB) Summary Description: Chemical structure of Fucoxanthin Author, date of creation: selfmade by Shaddack, 0 January 2006 Source: self-made Copyright: Public Domain (PD) Comments: b/w hires PNG; ChemDraw Licensing File links The following pages on the English... Carotenoids are organic pigments that are naturally occurring in plants and some other photosynthetic organisms like algae, some types of fungus and some bacteria. ... For animal and plant pigments, see Pigment, biology. ... The inside of a chloroplast Chloroplasts are organelles found in plant cells and eukaryotic algae that conduct photosynthesis. ... Orders Ascoseirales Chordariales Cutleriales Desmarestiales Dictyosiphonales Dictyotales Ectocarpales Fucales Laminariales(kelps) Scytosiphonales Scytothamnales Sphacelariales Sporochnales Syringodermatales Tilopteridales The brown algae or phaeophytes are a large group of multicellular algae, including many notable seaweeds. ... Typical classes Colored groups Chrysophyceae (golden algae) Synurophyceae Actinochrysophyceae (axodines) Pelagophyceae Phaeothamniophyceae Bacillariophyceae (diatoms) Raphidophyceae Eustigmatophyceae Xanthophyceae (yellow-green algae) Phaeophyceae (brown algae) Colorless groups Oomycetes (water moulds) Hypochytridiomycetes Bicosoecea Labyrinthulomycetes (slime nets) Opalinea Proteromonadea The heterokonts or stramenopiles are a major line of eukaryotes. ...