Chlorophyll2010
Chlorophyll derivatives in middle eocene sediments.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
confidence
Key findings
Chlorophyll derivatives isolated from middle Eocene brown coal; one identified as methyl pheophorbide a, the oldest reported fossil phorbin.
View source on PubMed (PMID 17731591) ↗
- Sample size
- Not reported
- Population
- Middle Eocene brown coal sediments (fossil sample)
- Dosing
- Not reported
- Duration
- Not reported
- Route
- Not reported
- Blinding
- not_reported
- Controls
- not_reported
- Drug class
- porphyrin pigment
Full abstract
Chloroform extracts of middle Eocene brown coal were made; the chlorophyll derivatives obtained were separated chromatographically. The visible light spectrum, chromatographic behavior, HCl number, infrared spectrum, and mass spectrum of one of the pigments extracted is indicative of methyl pheophorbide a. This is the oldest occurrence of fossil phorbins reported.