A major component of heme breakdown, the principal pigment of bile, acting as an antioxidant and potent scavenger of hydrogen peroxide, protecting cell membrane lipids from oxidation of these active groups. It is generally used in biochemical research, analytical chemistry and synthesis of bezoar. It can also be used as an antioxidant to protect membrane phospholipids from oxidation by hydrogen peroxide free radicals, even at nanomolar concentrations to protect neurons from oxidative damage (see related literature)
