different between xanthein vs xanthine

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French xantheine, apparently an arbitrary respelling to distinguish it from the similarly spelled xanthine. Ultimately from Ancient Greek; see xanthine.

Pronunciation

• Homophones: xanthene, xanthine

Noun

xanthein (countable and uncountable, plural xantheins)

1. (chemistry) The water-soluble part of the yellow carotenoid pigment present in the cell sap of some plants.

Usage notes

• Xanthein and similar-sounding words have also been used for several different yellow compounds derived from plants.

Synonyms

• xanthin
• xanthine

Translations

Anagrams

• xanthine

English

Etymology

From French xanthine, ultimately from Ancient Greek ?????? (xanthós, “yellow”), because xanthine is yellowish-white.

Pronunciation

• Homophones: xanthein, xanthene

Noun

xanthine (plural xanthines)

1. (chemistry) Any of a group of alkaloids that include caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine as well as the parent compound, a precursor of uric acid found in many organs of the body.

Usage notes

• There is much confusion between this word and xanthein, and they are often interchanged.

Derived terms

• methylxanthine
• nonxanthine
• xanthine oxidase

Translations

Anagrams

• xanthein

French

Etymology

Ancient Greek ?????? (xanthós, “yellow”), because xanthine is yellowish-white.

Noun

xanthine f (plural xanthines)

1. xanthine

Further reading

• “xanthine” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• Xanthien