indole in·dole (ĭn'dōl')
n.
A white crystalline compound obtained from coal tar or various plants and found in the intestines and feces as a product of the bacterial decomposition of tryptophan. Also called ketole.
Any of various derivatives of this compound.
indole (ĭn'dōl') Pronunciation Key
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indole
a heterocyclic organic compound occurring in some flower oils, such as jasmine and orange blossom, in coal tar, and in fecal matter. It is used in perfumery and in making tryptophan, an essential amino acid, and indoleacetic acid (heteroauxin), a hormone that promotes the development of roots in plant cuttings
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