天然靛蓝逐渐为合成靛蓝所取代;经化学反应可把它还原成可溶靛白,后者施于纺织品上,然后再氧化成靛蓝。

• "Synthetic indigo has replaced the natural dye; it is reduced chemically to the soluble yellow compound leucoindigo, in which form it is applied to textile fibres and reoxidized to indigo (see oxidation-reduction). "