856699-18-8

Biliverdin is a green bile pigment produced from the oxidation of heme in a reaction catalyzed by heme oxygenase and is further reduced to bilirubin by biliverdin reductase.^1,2 Biliverdin regulates the cellular heme degradation process by inhibiting substrates from binding to the catalytic site of heme oxygenase. Bile pigments such as biliverdin are known to possess anti-mutagenic and antioxidant properties.^3,4

Biliverdin hydrochloride, a tetrapyrrolic pigment, is a product of heme catabolism. Heme is broken down into Biliverdin and carbon monoxide and iron by heme oxidase. Biliverdin hydrochloride is then quickly broken down to bilirubin by Biliverdin reductase. Biliverdin hydrochloride is anti-mutagenic, an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunosuppressant[1].

Human Endogenous Metabolite

1. Liu, Y., Mo?nne-Loccoz, P., Loehr, T.M., et al. Heme oxygenase-1, intermediates in verdoheme formation and the requirement for reduction equivalents J. Biol. Chem. 272,6909-6917(1997).
2. Maines, M.D. The heme oxygenase system: A regulator of second messenger gases Annu. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 37,517-554(1997).
3. Bulmer, A.C., Ried, K., Blanchfield, J.T., et al. The anti-mutagenic properties of bile pigments Mutat. Res. 658(1-2),28-41(2008).
4. M?lzer, C., Huber, H., Steyrer, A., et al. In vitro antioxidant capacity and antigenotoxic properties of protoporphyrin and structurally related tetrapyrroles Free Radic. Res. 46(11),1369-1377(2012).