Xanthophyll
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Xanthophyll (originally phylloxanthin), a carotenoid, is the yellow pigment found in the leaves of most plants. It is involved in photosynthesis along with green chlorophyll, which typically covers up the yellow except in autumn. In plants it is considered an accessory pigment, along with anthocyanin, carotene, and sometimes phycobilin.
Xanthophyll cannot be produced by animals, but they can take it in with their feed. The yellow color of chicken egg yolks, for instance, is produced in this way.
