Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 9, 2026

Flavoxanthin

Flavoxanthin is a natural xanthophyll pigment with a golden-yellow color found in small quantities in a variety of plants. As a food additive it used under the E number E161a as a food coloring although it is not approved for use in the EU or USA. It is listed as food additive 161a in Australia and New Zealand where it is approved for usage as an ingredient in food products.

Last revised
Jun 9, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
203 w
Citations
3
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Flavoxanthin1
Skeletal formula of flavoxanthin
source ↗
Space-filling model of the flavoxanthin molecule
source ↗
Names
IUPAC name
(3R,5R,8R,3′R,6′R)-5,8-Epoxy-5,8-dihydro-β,ε-carotene-3,3′-diol
Systematic IUPAC name
(2R,6S,7aR)-2-{(2E,4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E,16E)-17-[(1R,4R)-4-Hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-yl]-6,11,15-trimethylheptadeca-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16-octaen-2-yl}-4,4,7a-trimethyl-2,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-1-benzofuran-6-ol
Other names
  • 5,8-Epoxy-5,8-dihydro-γ-carotene-3,3'-diol
  • all-trans-Flavoxanthin
  • E161a
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
E number E161a (colours)
KEGG
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C40H56O3/c1-28(17-13-18-30(3)21-22-35-32(5)23-33(41)25-38(35,6)7)15-11-12-16-29(2)19-14-20-31(4)36-24-37-39(8,9)26-34(42)27-40(37,10)43-36/h11-24,33-36,41-42H,25-27H2,1-10H3/b12-11+,17-13+,19-14+,22-21+,28-15+,29-16+,30-18+,31-20+/t33-,34-,35-,36+,40+/m0/s1 ☒N
    Key: JRHJXXLCNATYLS-NGZWBNMCSA-N ☒N
  • InChI=1/C40H56O3/c1-28(17-13-18-30(3)21-22-35-32(5)23-33(41)25-38(35,6)7)15-11-12-16-29(2)19-14-20-31(4)36-24-37-39(8,9)26-34(42)27-40(37,10)43-36/h11-24,33-36,41-42H,25-27H2,1-10H3/b12-11+,17-13+,19-14+,22-21+,28-15+,29-16+,30-18+,31-20+/t33-,34-,35-,36+,40+/m0/s1
    Key: JRHJXXLCNATYLS-NGZWBNMCBG
  • CC1=C[C@@H](CC([C@H]1\C=C\C(=C\C=C\C(=C\C=C\C=C(/C)\C=C\C=C(/C)\[C@H]2C=C3C(C[C@@H](C[C@]3(O2)C)O)(C)C)\C)\C)(C)C)O
Properties
C40H56O3
Molar mass 584.87 g/mol
Appearance Yellow solid
Melting point 184 °C (363 °F; 457 K)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Flavoxanthin is a natural xanthophyll pigment with a golden-yellow color found in small quantities in a variety of plants. As a food additive it used under the E number E161a as a food coloring although it is not approved for use in the EU2 or USA. It is listed as food additive 161a in Australia and New Zealand where it is approved for usage as an ingredient in food products.3

References

References

  1. Merck Index, 11th Edition, 4032.
  2. UK Food Standards Agency: "Current EU approved additives and their E Numbers". Retrieved 2011-10-27.
  3. Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code"Standard 1.2.4 - Labelling of ingredients". Retrieved 2011-10-27.