indican
/ˈɪndɪkan
/noun [mass noun] Biochemistry
A potassium salt present in urine, in which it occurs as a product of the metabolism of indole.
- Alternative name: potassium indoxylsulphate; chemical formula C8H6NOSO2OH.
- It has been suggested that up to a half of elderly hospitalized patients excrete an abnormally high concentration of indican compared with young individuals.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Latin indicum 'indigo' (because of its early use denoting an indoxyl glucoside occurring in the leaves of indigo plants) + -an.