Hematin (Noun)
Meaning
A complex red organic pigment containing iron and other atoms to which oxygen binds.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- Hematin is created when the heme group from hemoglobin loses its bond with the protein and then oxidizes, typically as a result of the breakdown of red blood cells.
- The body of a deceased person may turn a greenish or purplish color due to the accumulation of hematin in the skin.
- The presence of hematin in a decomposing body can be analyzed as evidence in forensic pathology to determine the cause and time of death.
- Hematin is not the same as other similar pigment molecules such as biliverdin and bilirubin, although they are also byproducts of heme catabolism.
- Due to its presence in some organisms, particularly the malaria parasite, hematin has potential applications as a target for investigations into a new generation of antimalarial medications.