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