Xanthophyll

Xanthophyll (originally phylloxanthin) is the yellow pigment found in the leaves of most plants. It is involved in photosynthesis along with green chlorophyll, which typically covers up the yellow except in autumn. In plants it is considered an accessory pigment , along with anthocyanin, carotene, and sometimes phycoblin .

Xanthophyll is also found in animals, such as egg yolks and blood plasma. The Perdue brand of chicken meat also advertises that its chickens are a healthy golden yellow color because they eat marigold flowers in their feed.