Photosensitive compounds found in herbs have been reported in recent years as having a variety of interesting medicinal and biological activities. In this review, we focus on photosensitizers such as hypericin and its model compounds emodin, quinizarin, and danthron, which have antiviral, antifungal, antineoplastic, and antitumor effects. They can be utilized as potential agents in photodynamic therapy, especially in photodynamic therapy (PDT) for cancer. We aimed to give a comprehensive summary of the physical and chemical properties of these interesting molecules, emphasizing their mechanism of action in relation to their different interactions with biomacromolecules, specifically with DNA.

• Keywords
• DNA, anticancer activity, danthron, emodin, hypericin, interaction, natural photosensitive compounds, quinizarin,
• MeSH
• Anthracenes MeSH
• Anthraquinones chemistry   MeSH
• Photochemotherapy MeSH
• Photosensitizing Agents chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Neoplasms drug therapy   MeSH
• Perylene analogs & derivatives   chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Antineoplastic Agents chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone MeSH Browser
• Anthracenes MeSH
• Anthraquinones MeSH
• Photosensitizing Agents MeSH
• hypericin MeSH Browser
• Perylene MeSH
• Antineoplastic Agents MeSH

We recently developed a new light source that allows for the continuous monitoring of light-induced changes using common spectrophotometric devices adapted for microplate analyses. This source was designed primarily to induce photodynamic processes in cell models. Modern light components, such as LED chips, were used to improve the irradiance homogeneity. In addition, this source forms a small hermetic chamber and thus allows for the regulation of the surrounding atmosphere, which plays a significant role in these light-dependent reactions. The efficacy of the new light source was proven via kinetic measurements of reactive oxygen species generated during the photodynamic reaction of chloroaluminium phthalocyanine disulfonate (ClAlPcS2) in three cell lines: human melanoma cells (G361), human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF7), and human fibroblasts (BJ).

• Keywords
• In vitro, Light source, Microplate reader, Photodynamic effect,
• MeSH
• Models, Biological * MeSH
• Fibroblasts cytology   metabolism   radiation effects   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Cell Line, Tumor MeSH
• Reactive Oxygen Species metabolism   MeSH
• Light * MeSH
• Hot Temperature MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Reactive Oxygen Species MeSH