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- Title
Pigment chemistry: The red sweat of the hippopotamus.
- Authors
Saikawa, Yoko; Hashimoto, Kimiko; Nakata, Masaya; Yoshihara, Masato; Nagai, Kiyoshi; ida, Motoyasu; Komiya, Teruyuki
- 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.
- Subjects
ANIMAL pigments; HIPPOPOTAMUS; PERSPIRATION; SECRETION; AROMATIC compounds
- Publication
Nature, 2004, Vol 429, Issue 6990, p363
- ISSN
0028-0836
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/429363a