Comparative photobiology of psoralens.

The comparative photobiological effects of several furocoumarins [i.e., angelicin, psoralen, 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), and 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP)] have been evaluated in a number of biological systems. The photosensitized induced lethality and genetic damage have been assessed in bacterial, animal, and human cells, and the rank order of effectiveness established psoralen as the most active compound followed by 8-MOP, 5-MOP, and angelicin, 5-MOP and 8-MOP are, however, essentially equally active in the production of chromosome damage in human cells in vitro.