Chem. Also -ine. [ad. F. xanthéine (Frémy & Cloez, 1854), arbitrarily f. Gr. ξανθός yellow, to distinguish it from xanthine XANTHIN (1 b).] That part of the yellow coloring-matter of flowers which is soluble in water: cf. XANTHIN 1 b.
1857. Miller, Elem. Chem., Org., 546. The yellow substance which is soluble in water is termed xantheine: it … may be obtained from the yellow dahlia.
1864. Watts, trans. Gmelin’s Hand-bk. Chem., XVI. 513. Yellow of Flowers…. The insoluble substance, called Xanthin by Frémy & Cloez, appears to correspond with Marquart’s anthoxanthin; their Xanthein, soluble in water, with Marquart’s colourless extractive matter.
