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WHAT IS BILIVERDIN?

Biliverdin is the name of a chemical which is found in bile.  

It is produced when red blood cells are broken down.

The iron in haemoglobin is recycled and used to make new red blood cells.

In this process, a waste product is created, called biliverdin. 

This is normally flushed out through the kidneys and excreted, as it is toxic. 

If there is an issue with the kidneys i.e. a blockage or improper processing, then biliverdin can build up in the circulatory system. 

It is this which leads to jaundice, a condition seen in humans which leads to the yellowing of the skin.  

Biliverdin is green in colour, and the higher the concentration of the chemical the more vibrant the green hue becomes. 

Biliverdin is also seen in humans when a bruise turns green. 

A green bruise means the blood cells in the region have been ruptured and their contents are spilling. 

This haematoma causes the biliverdin to be released, causing the greenish hue. 

When a green bruise turns yellow, it is because the chemical has been broken down by the body to create bilirubin.

Biliverdin is also seen in some tropical lizards in Papua New Guinea which have extremely bright green blood due to a concentration of the chemical 40 times that which is toxic in humans. 

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This undated photo provided by Christopher Austin in May 2018 shows a prehensile tailed skink (Prasinohaema prehensicauda) from the highlands of New Papua New Guinea. The high concentrations of the green bile pigment biliverdin in the blood overwhelms the crimson color of red blood cells resulting in a lime-green coloration of the muscles, bones, and mucosal tissues. (Christopher Austin via AP) Mystery over why some lizards have GREEN blood: Scientists baffled over how the creatures evolved to produce the toxic substance

Six species of lizards in New Guinea have vibrant green blood that is toxic to humans. The cause remains unknown but it could be an...

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