porphyrin

Etymology

From German Porphyrin, shortened from Hämatoporphyrin (“haematoporphyrin”).

noun

  1. (organic chemistry) Any of a class of heterocyclic compounds containing pyrrole rings arranged in a square or other similar shape; they are important in biochemistry in a form with a metal atom in the central cavity (hemoglobin with iron, chlorophyll with magnesium, etc.).

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