Porphyrin
/ˈpɔːr.fɪr.ɪn/noun
A porphyrin is a ring-shaped organic compound found in heme, chlorophyll, and related biological pigments.
Did you know?Porphyrins were named from Greek porphyra, “purple dye,” because some of these compounds and their complexes can produce deep red-purple colors, linking modern biochemistry to one of antiquity’s most prized pigments.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
πορφύρα (porphyra)
“Purple dye or purple cloth, especially the costly Tyrian dye”
Late Latin
Latin
porphyrinus
“Purple-colored; of purple”
19th Century
English
porphyrin
“A class of naturally occurring pigments and related compounds”
Modern English
English
porphyrin
“A ring-shaped organic compound forming the core of many biological pigments”