Pigment chemistry: the red sweat of the hippopotamus |
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| Authors: | Saikawa Yoko Hashimoto Kimiko Nakata Masaya Yoshihara Masato Nagai Kiyoshi Ida Motoyasu Komiya Teruyuki |
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| Institution: | Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan. |
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| Abstract: | Within a few minutes of perspiration, the colourless, viscous sweat of the hippopotamus gradually turns red, and then brown as the pigment polymerizes. Here we isolate and characterize the pigments responsible for this colour reaction. The unstable red and orange pigments turn out to be non-benzenoid aromatic compounds that are unexpectedly acidic and have antibiotic as well as sunscreen activity. |
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