The molecule is a flat macrocycle, consisting of four pyrrole-like rings joined by four methine bridges, which makes it the simplest of the tetrapyrroles.

It has been detected in GC-MS of certain fractions of Piper betle.

[3] Substituted derivatives of porphine are called porphyrins.

Many porphyrins are found in nature with the dominant example being protoporphyrin IX.

[4] Many synthetic porphyrins are also known, including octaethylporphyrin[5] and tetraphenylporphyrin.