Chlorophyllin

Chlorophyllin refers to any one of a group of closely related water-soluble salts that are semi-synthetic derivatives of chlorophyll, differing in the identity of the cations associated with the anion. Its most common form is a sodium/copper derivative used as a food additive and in alternative medicine. Chlorophyll is present in green leafy vegetables and reaching levels as high as 5.7% in spinach. As a food coloring agent, copper complex chlorophyllin is known as natural green 3 and has the E number E141.

Cancer prevention
Because chlorophyll does not dissolve in water, food sources of chlorophyll do not bind to mutagenic substances to a significant extent. Chlorophyllin, being water-soluble, can significantly bind to environmental mutagens such as the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons benzo[a]pyrene and dibenzo{a,i}pyrene. Chlorophyllin binds to mutagens twenty times better than resveratrol and thousands of times better than xanthines.

Medicine and Hygiene
Chlorophyllin is the active ingredient in a number of internally taken preparations intended to reduce odors associated with incontinence, colostomies and similar procedures, as well as body odor in general. It is also available as a topical preparation, purportedly useful for both treatment and odor control of wounds, injuries, and other skin conditions - notably radiation burns.

Chemistry
PEG-Chlorophyllin is conjugated with the following

α-(3-aminopropyl)-ω-methoxypoly(oxyethylene), PEG-NH2, to form the PEG−chlorophyllin conjugate through acid-amide bonds. PEG−chlorophyllin conjugate was stable toward light illumination under anaerobic condition in comparison with chlorophyllin a. The conjugate catalyzed the reduction of methyl viologen in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol and the evolution of hydrogen gas in the presence of methyl viologen (an electron carrier), 2-mercaptoethanol (an electron donor) and hydrogenase (Scheme 1). Furthermore, the PEG−chlorophyllin conjugate catalyzed the photoreduction of NADP+ or NAD+ in the presence of ascorbate as an electron donor and ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase as the coupling enzyme. Utilizing the reducing power of NADPH generated by the PEG−chlorophyllin conjugate under the illumination, CO2 fixation was accomplished by the synthesis of malate (C4) from pyruvate (C3) and CO2 in the presence of malic enzyme (Scheme 2). These reactions mentioned above can not proceed in the dark or without each enzyme.