A red dye originally extracted from madder and also prepared artificially by the oxidation of alizarin.
An anthraquinone derivative; chemical formula: C₁₄H₈O₅
‘Alizarin is the main colourant molecule, but the extract also contains a closely related compound called purpurin, which (despite the name) imparts an orange colour.’
‘Additionally, monascus pigments, purpurin, chlorophyllin and curcumin were reported to inhibit the mutagenicity of heterocyclic amines and other carcinogens.’
‘In general, these newer drugs have been based on the structure of chlorin, purpurin, phthalocyanine or naphthalocyanine.’
‘However, the addition of purpurin to oxidized cytochrome c in the absence of microsomal fraction demonstrated low level but dose-dependent ‘reductase-like’ activity.’
Origen
Mid 19th century from Latin purpura ‘purple’+ -in.
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