pigment

Juglone (Regianin) is a natural naphthoquinone found in the black walnut (J. nigra) and other plants in the Juglandaceae family. Juglone also irreversibly inhibits peptidyl-prolyl cis trans isomerases of the parvulin family, including human Pin1, yeast Ess1 Ptf1, and E. coli parvulin (Ki = 55.9 nM). Juglone also blocks transcription by RNA polymerases I, II, and III (IC50s = 2-7 μM) and attenuates kidney fibrosis in rats treated with unilateral ureteral obstruction, both through Pin1-independent mechanisms.

3-hydroxymorindone is a natural product from Morinda citrifolia. 3-hydroxymorindone is a pigment.

C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) is a water-soluble protein pigment that is also used as a nutrient supplement for human beings.

Lycopene (ψ,ψ-Carotene) is a linear, unsaturated hydrocarbon carotenoid, the major red pigment in fruits such as tomatoes, pink grapefruit, apricots, red oranges, watermelon, rosehips, and guava. As a class, carotenoids are pigment compounds found in photosynthetic organisms (plants, algae, and some types of fungus), and are chemically characterized by a large polyene chain containing 35-40 carbon atoms; some carotenoid polyene chains are terminated by two 6-carbon rings. In animals, carotenoids such as lycopene may possess antioxidant properties which may retard aging and many degenerative diseases. As an essential nutrient, lycopene is required in the animal diet.

4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid is an enzyme inhibitor.4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid (4-HPPA) is a keto acid that is involved in the tyrosine catabolism pathway. It is a product of the enzyme (R)-4-hydroxyphenyllactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.222) and is formed during tyrosine metabolism. The conversion from tyrosine to 4-HPPA is catalyzed by tyrosine aminotransferase. Additionally, 4-HPPA can be converted to homogentisic acid which is one of the precursors to ochronotic pigment. The enzyme 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid dioxygenase (HPD) catalyzes the reaction that converts 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid to homogentisic acid. A deficiency in the catalytic activity of HPD is known to lead to tyrosinemia type III, an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by elevated levels of blood tyrosine and massive excretion of tyrosine derivatives into urine. It has been shown that hawkinsinuria, an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the excretion of 'hawkinsin,' may also be a result of HPD deficiency . Moreover, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid is also found to be associated in phenylketonuria, which is also an inborn error of metabolism. There are two isomers of HPPA, specifically 4HPPA and 3HPPA, of which 4HPPA is the most common.

Crocin is a water-soluble carotenoid pigment of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Crocin has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, anti-asthma, anti-cancer, and hypolipidemic effects.

Acetylalkannin (Alkannin acetate), an isohexenylnaphthazarin pigment extracted from Arnebia euchroma, exhibits antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties.

Monascin, an azaphilonoid pigment extracted from Monascus pilosus-fermented rice (red-mold rice), exhibits anti-tumor-initiating and anti-inflammatory activities.

Roseoflavin, a chemical analog of FMN and riboflavin that has antimicrobial activity, can directly bind to FMN riboswitch aptamers and downregulate the expression of an FMN riboswitch-lacZ reporter gene in B. subtilis.

Rubropunctatin is a monascus pigment with very potent cancer cell proliferation inhibitory effects.

Bikaverin is a reddish pigment produced by different fungal species with antibiotic properties against certain protozoa and fungi. Bikaverin also has antitumoral activity against different cancer cell lines.

Crocin (Gardenia Yellow) is a water-soluble carotenoid pigment of saffron (Crocus sativus L. ) that has been used as a spice for flavoring and coloring food preparations, and in Chinese traditional medicine as an anodyne or tranquilizer. Crocin suppresses tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha-induced apoptosis of pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells by modulating mRNA expressions of Bcl-2 family proteins, which trigger downstream signals culminating in caspase-3 activation followed by cell death. Crocin prevented the activation of nSMase by enhancing the transcription of gamma-glutamylcysteinyl synthase, which contributes to a stable glutathione supply that blocks the activity of nSMase.

(Rac)-Shikonin (Anchusin) is a natural red naphthoquinone pigment, has antimicrobial, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory effects; a purified shikonin preparation is widely used for the production of medicinals, cosmetics, and some food products; shikonin also enters into the antiinflammatory ointment and cream compositions used for the treatment of burns. It can suppress the cell viability, adhesion, invasion and migratory ability of MGC-803 cells through TLR2- or NF-κB-mediated pathway.

Bilirubin (Principal bile pigment) is a type of bile pigment, which is a metabolite of hemoglobin in the blood. Bilirubin has antimutagenic and antioxidant effects. Bilirubin is an important basis for clinical determination of jaundice, and is also an important indicator of liver function.

Lithospermidin B is a minor pigment isolated from the roots of L. erythrorhizon.

Rubrofusarin is an orange polyketide pigment.

Violacein is a bacterial metabolite originally isolated from C. violaceum that has antibacterial and antiprotozoal activities.[1] [2] It is produced by C. violaceum as a purple pigment in response to N-hexanoyl homoserine lactone , a property that has been modified to create a strain of C. violaceum used in detecting quorum-sensing molecules.[3] Violacein is active against Gram-positive bacteria, including B. subtilis and S. aureus (MICs = 0.8 and 1.6 µM, respectively). It is also active against P. falciparum, including chloroquine-susceptible and -resistant strains (IC50s = 0.85 and 0.63 µM, respectively).[2] It reduces parasitemia in a mouse model of nonlethal P. chabaudi chabaudi infection when administered at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg and increases survival in a mouse model of lethal P. chabaudi chabaudi infection. Violacein permeabilizes the cytoplasmic membrane of bacterial cells but does not affect the cell wall.[1]

Prodigiosin hydrochloride, a red pigment, is a bioactive secondary metabolite produced by bacteria. It exhibits potent proapoptotic activity and functions as an inhibitor of the Wnt β-catenin pathway. Additionally, this compound possesses antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antimalarial, immunosuppressive, and anticancer properties.

(-)-Alkannin (Shikonin) is a natural red naphthoquinone pigment, has antimicrobial, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory effects; a purified shikonin preparation is widely used for the production of medicinals, cosmetics, and some food products; shikonin also enters into the antiinflammatory ointment and cream compositions used for the treatment of burns. It can suppress the cell viability, adhesion, invasion and migratory ability of MGC-803 cells through TLR2- or NF-κB-mediated pathway.

1. 5,15-Diacetyl-3-benzoyllathyrol (Euphorbia factor L3) is a melanine production inhibitor, excellent in inhibiting pigment stagnation and improving the discoloration of the skin or freckles, has excellent stability.

Canthaxanthin (E 161g) is a red-orange carotenoid that belongs to the xanthophyll group. This naturally occurring pigment is present in bacteria, algae and some fungi.

Scytonemin is a biological pigment synthesized by many strains of cyanobacteria, including Calothrix sp., Lyngbya aestuarii, and others. Scytonemin is also a potent PKL1 inhibitor, which inhibits cell proliferation and arrests cell cycle through downregulating Plk1 activity in many cancel cells. Scytonemin was able to inhibit the proliferation of three myeloma cells in a dose-dependent manner, while U266 was the most sensitive one to scytonemin. Scytonemin , representing a novel Plk1 inhibitor, induced the inhibition of cell growth and cell cycle arrest in multiple myeloma cells by specifically decreasing Plk1 activity.

Myricetin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside, a quercetin derivative and plant flavonoid, exhibits antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiurease properties. It inhibits A2E photooxidation-induced retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell death and offers protection against retinal degeneration as well as blue light (BL)-induced damage in RPE cells and mouse models [1].

Fucoxanthin (all-trans-Fucoxanthin) is a carotenoid naturally found in certain algae, serving as an accessory pigment in the chloroplasts of brown algae and most other heterokonts, which imparts a brown or olive-green color. It exhibits anti-obesity, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities.