Skip to main content
xanthine

xanthine

1 9.9
A colorless substance the body makes when it breaks down DNA and RNA
  • noun
  • /ˈzænˌθin/
  • Specialized
: xantina
  • The levels of xanthine in tissues can indicate the efficiency of nucleic acid metabolism in the organism.
  • xanthine dehydrogenase
  • xanthine oxidase activity

Examples

  • But taking supplements of lutein and xanthine has shown in many studies to improve the pigment layers in the back of the eye.

  • In the same protein extract from the primary root tip, the activity of xanthine dehydrogenase was not heavily influenced by MeJA (Fig. 1, upper bands).

    Academic text (2015)
  • This assay utilizes a tetrazolium salt for the detection of superoxide radicals generated by xanthine oxidase and hypoxanthine.

    Blog text (23)
  • The cost of cellulite removal using creams and gels such as retinoids, xanthines, and alpha hydroxy acids is usually $45-$150 for a six-month supply.

    Blog text (3)
  • Xanthine is a compound produced during the breakdown of nucleic acids and can be found in various fluids within the body.

  • In the human body, xanthine serves as a precursor to uric acid, which plays a role in the metabolism of purines.

Surface Forms

xanthine singular
xanthines plural

Morphology

xanthine = xanth + ine

Although historically built from the combining form 'xanth-' (yellow) + the chemical suffix '-ine', the combining form is not a standalone English word and the resulting chemical name is technical, so an average B1 learner cannot derive the meaning from the parts.

Etymology

Xanthine comes from the Greek root xanth- meaning 'yellow' and the chemical ending -ine. So, even though xanthine itself is often colorless, its name shows it belongs to a group of related chemicals that were noticed for a yellow colour.