Indican

Indican is a colourless organic compound, soluble in water, naturally occurring in Indigofera plants. It is a precursor of indigo dye.[1]

Indican
Names
IUPAC name
(2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-2-(Hydroxymethyl)-6-(1H-indol-3-yloxy)tetrahydropyran-3,4,5-triol
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.126.244
Properties
C14H17NO6
Molar mass 295.291 g·mol−1
Melting point 178 to 180 °C (352 to 356 °F; 451 to 453 K) (decomposes)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Chemical reactions

Common and significant reactions involving indican are as follows:

Medical significance

Biosynthesis

A reaction, similar to the above-mentioned is seen in the normal population,[2] who excrete small amounts of the chemical in their urine. Normal urine reacting to hydrogen peroxide does at times produce a bluish tinge. Tryptophan is first converted to indole (excreted in faeces), then to indican by bacteria in the gut. Indican, being water-soluble, is then excreted through the urine. Following absorption from the gut, indole is converted to 3-hydroxy indole (indoxyl or indican) in the liver, where it is again then conjugated with sulfuric acid or glucoronic acid through normal xenobiotic metabolism pathways. It is then transported to the kidneys for excretion.[3][4]

The enzyme "indoxyl esterase" has been found in humans and is involved in another pathway of chemical reactions involving indoxyl.[5]

Pathology

In individuals affected by the blue diaper syndrome, the patients exhibit a defect in tryptophan metabolism. Tryptophan is first converted to indole, then to indican by bacteria in the gut. Indican is then excreted into the urine and from there into the diaper where, upon exposure to air, it is converted to indigo blue dye due to oxidation by atmospheric oxygen.

Indican interferes with many commercial procedures for measuring total bilirubin[6] which can be a problem for renal failure patients where blood indican levels are raised. It can cause gastrointestinal symptoms in patients where protein absorption is reduced - like Hartnup's disease, allowing for greater bacterial decomposition of the tryptophan to indole and its conversion to indican.

References
  1. Definition: indican from Online Medical Dictionary
  2. Urinary Excretion of Indoxyl Sulfate (Indican) by Human Subjects Ingesting a Semisynthetic Diet Containing Variable Quantities of l-Tryptophan - BRYAN 19 (2): 113 - American J...
  3. Urine Indican Test Archived 2008-08-07 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Bio Center Lab tests Urine Metabolism - Indican Archived 2008-06-12 at the Wayback Machine
  5. http://www.jcb.org/cgi/reprint/39/2/286.pdf
  6. Indican interference with six commercial procedures for measuring total bilirubin - Poon and Hinberg 31 (1): 92 - Clinical Chemistry
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