Chlorophylls

Chlorophyll plays an important role in making plants green and healthy. Chlorophyll is found in the mesosomes of cyanobacteria and in the chloroplasts of algae and plants. This nutrient is present in green vegetables , cyanobacteria, and algae. The greener the vegetable is, the higher its chlorophyll content.

Chlorophyll’s function in a plant is to absorb light—normally sunlight. The energy absorbed from light is transferred to two kinds of energy-storing molecules. Through photosynthesis, the plant uses the stored energy to convert carbon dioxide (absorbed from the air) and water into glucose, a type of sugar.

In plants, photosynthesis takes place in chloroplasts, which contain the chlorophyll. Chloroplasts are surrounded by a double membrane and contain a third inner membrane, called the thylakoid membrane.

Plants that use photosynthesis to make their own food are called autotrophs. Animals that eat plants or other animals are called heterotrophs.

There are two types of chlorophyll in plants: chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. All plants contain either one of these two varieties. They are both fat-soluble compounds that have antioxidant properties.
Chlorophylls