Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 13, 2026

Haematin

Haematin is a dark bluish or brownish pigment containing iron in the ferric state, obtained by the oxidation of haem.

Last revised
Jul 13, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
174 w
Citations
2
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Haematin
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Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard 100.035.911
EC Number
  • 239-518-9
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C34H48N4O4.Fe.H2O/c1-7-21-17(3)25-13-26-19(5)23(9-11-33(39)40)31(37-26)16-32-24(10-12-34(41)42)20(6)28(38-32)15-30-22(8-2)18(4)27(36-30)14-29(21)35-25;;/h7-8,20,24-32,36-37H,1-2,9-16H2,3-6H3,(H,39,40)(H,41,42);;1H2/q-2;+3;/p-1 ☒N
  • Key: DVJHGZPPXLPYLP-UHFFFAOYSA-M
  • CC1C2CC3NC(CC4C(=C(C([N-]4)CC5NC(CC(C1CCC(=O)O)[N-]2)C(=C5C)CCC(=O)O)C)C=C)C(=C3C=C)C.[OH-].[Fe+3]
Properties
C34H33FeN4O5
Molar mass 633.506 g·mol−1
insoluble in water, but soluble in alkaline water
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Haematin (also known as hematin, ferriheme, hematosin, hydroxyhemin, oxyheme, phenodin, or oxyhemochromogen) is a dark bluish or brownish pigment containing iron in the ferric state, obtained by the oxidation of haem.

Haematin inhibits the synthesis of porphyrin (by repressing ALAS1 synthesis),1 and stimulates the synthesis of globin. For this reason, it is used in the treatment of porphyrias.1

It is a component of cytochromes and peroxidases. Haematin derived synthetically from hemin is used as a reagent.

References

References

  1. Rodwell, Victor W. (2018). Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry (31st ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. p. 311. ISBN 978-1-25-983794-4.