On the non-existence of eloxanthin

Abstract

Abandonment of the name eloxanthin is proposed. The principal carotenoids in various species of Elodea were (3 R, 3′ R, 6′ R)-lutein (β,ε-carotene-3, 3′-diol) and β, β-carotene. The minor pigments were neoxanthin-X (5′, 6′-epoxy-6, 7-didehydro-5, 6, 5′, 6′-tetrahydro-β, β-carotene-3, 5, 3′-triol), 9′- cis-neoxanthin- X, 9- and 13- cis-violaxanthin (5, 6, 5′, 6′-diepoxy-5, 6, 5′, 6′-tetrahydro-β, β-carotene-3, 3′-diol), antheraxanthin (5, 6-epoxy-5, 6-dihydro-β, β-carotene-3, 3′-diol), neolutein A (13- or 13′- cis-lutein) and neolutein B (9- or 9′- cis-lutein). All attempts to isolate eloxanthin failed.