MOLECULE

Violaxanthin

Violaxanthin belongs to the class of organic compounds known as xanthophylls. These are carotenoids containing an oxygenated carotene backbone. Carotenes are characterized by the presence of two end-groups (mostly cyclohexene rings, but also cyclopentene rings or acyclic groups) linked by a long branched alkyl chain. Carotenes belonging form a subgroup of the carotenoids family. Xanthophylls arise by oxygenation of the carotene backbone. Violaxanthin is an extremely weak basic (essentially neutral) compound (based on its pKa). Violaxanthin is expected to be in Cannabis as all living plants are known to produce and metabolize it.