Hipposudoric acid

Hipposudoric acid
IUPAC name

3-Carboxymethyl-5-hydroxy-1,4,8-trioxo-4,8-dihydro-1H-fluorene-9-carboxylic acid
Identifiers
CAS number 851367-73-2
ChemSpider 21474973 Y
Jmol-3D images Image 1
Properties
Molecular formula C16H8O8
Molar mass 328.23 g mol−1
Appearance Red
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Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Hipposudoric acid is a red pigment found in the skin secretions of the hippopotamus;[1] although the secretions are often known as "blood sweat" (thus the name "hipposudoric", referring to "hippo sweat"), they are neither blood nor sweat.

Like its orange-colored analog norhipposudoric acid, hipposudoric acid functions both as a natural sunscreen and as an antimicrobial agent. It is derived from the oxidative dimerization of homogentisic acid.[2]

References

  1. ^ Kimiko Hashimoto, Yoko Saikawa, and Masaya Nakata (2007). "Studies on the red sweat of the Hippopotamus amphibius". Pure Appl. Chem. 79 (4): 507–517. doi:10.1351/pac200779040507. http://media.iupac.org/publications/pac/2007/pdf/7904x0507.pdf. 
  2. ^ Moriya Kai, Matsuura Masanori, Saikawa Yoko, Hashimoto Kimiko, Yamaguguchi Ayumu, Sakamoto Kazuhiro, Akihisa Narito, Hirata Hiroyoshi (2006). "Properties of the enzyme responsible to the synthesis of hipposudoric and norhipposudoric acids, the pigments in the red sweat of the hippopotamus". Nippon Kagakkai Koen Yokoshu 86 (2): 1314. http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200618/000020061806A0436283.php.