Xanthophyll facts for kids

The color of an egg yolk is from xanthophyll pigments.

Xanthophylls are types of yellow pigments that can be seen in natural objects. They are found in the leaves of most green plants. They are difficult to see in a healthy leaf, because chlorophyll pigments make the leaf green. Unlike chlorophyll, however, xanthophylls do not need light for production. Therefore, leaves will only show the yellow pigments if the leaf does not get enough light (etiolation).

The name comes from the Greek words for "yellow" (xanthos, ξανθός), and "leaf" (phyllon, φύλλον).

• MeSH Xanthophylls

Images for kids

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  Thin layer chromatography is used to separate components of a plant extract, illustrating the experiment with plant pigments that gave chromatography its name. Plant xanthophylls form the bright yellow band next to the green

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  The xanthophyll cycle

See also

In Spanish: Xantófila para niños