Question

Which of the following pigments are responsible for the brown color of human faeces?
A. Stercobilinogen
B. Stercobilin
C. Derivatives of bilirubin
D. All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Human faeces is the solid or semi-solid remains of food that could not be digested or absorbed in the small intestine of humans. Human faeces are excreted out as a waste from the body.

Complete Answer:
1. Stercobilinogen –Stercobilinogen is a chemical which is created by the bacteria in the gut of the humans.
- Stercobilinogen is made up of broken down haemoglobin.
- Stercobnilinogen is further processed and give brown colour to the faecal matter.

2. Stercobolin – Stercobilin is a tetrapyrrole bile pigment.
- Stercobolin is the end product of heme catabolism.
- It is the chemical which is responsible for the brown colour of faeces of humans.
- Stercobolin was first isolated in 1932.

3. Derivatives of bilirubin – Bilirubin is a yellow coloured compound that is produced due to the breakdown of heme in vertebrates.
- Urobilinogen is the derivative of bilirubin which is responsible for the brown colour of human faeces.

Hence, option D is the correct option for this question.

Note: Human faeces together with the urine is called as human waste or human excreta. Human faeces are also called stool. For preventing the spread of pathogens from the human faeces proper sanitation is required otherwise many many disease causing pathogens can develop which can cause harm.