adenochrome
biology
Quick Summary
The term "adenochrome" can refer to two distinct substances. One is an acidic, red pigment found in the branchial hearts of octopuses, believed to be an excretory product. This pigment contains iron and nitrogen and gives a positive reaction for pyrroles.12
The other substance, "adrenochrome," is a red mixture of quinones derived from epinephrine (adrenaline) through oxidation. The term "adenochrome" was first used around 1943, while "adrenochrome" dates back to 1940.31
Summary created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
3 Britannica Sources
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.