Protocyanin
Encyclopedia
Protocyanin is an anthocyanin
pigment that is responsible for the red colouration of rose
s, but in cornflowers is blue. The pigment was first isolated in 1913 from the blue cornflower, and the identical pigment was isolated from a red rose in 1915. The difference in colour was previously explained as a difference in flower-petal pH, but the pigment in the blue cornflower has been shown to be a supermolecular pigment consisting of a complex of anthocyanin, flavone, one ferric
iron
, one magnesium
and two calcium
ions.
The molecular formula of protocyanin complex is of the type of C366H384O228FeMg.
Anthocyanin
Anthocyanins are water-soluble vacuolar pigments that may appear red, purple, or blue according to pH...
pigment that is responsible for the red colouration of rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
s, but in cornflowers is blue. The pigment was first isolated in 1913 from the blue cornflower, and the identical pigment was isolated from a red rose in 1915. The difference in colour was previously explained as a difference in flower-petal pH, but the pigment in the blue cornflower has been shown to be a supermolecular pigment consisting of a complex of anthocyanin, flavone, one ferric
Ferric
Ferric refers to iron-containing materials or compounds. In chemistry the term is reserved for iron with an oxidation number of +3, also denoted iron or Fe3+. On the other hand, ferrous refers to iron with oxidation number of +2, denoted iron or Fe2+...
iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
, one magnesium
Magnesium
Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and common oxidation number +2. It is an alkaline earth metal and the eighth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and ninth in the known universe as a whole...
and two calcium
Calcium
Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust...
ions.
The molecular formula of protocyanin complex is of the type of C366H384O228FeMg.