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BACKGROUND: Psoralen has a strong anti-osteoporotic activity and may have a restorative effect on chemotherapy-induced osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE: To explore the restorative effect of psoralen on the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in mice inhibited by cyclophosphamide and its mechanism. METHODS: C57BL/6 mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and cultured. Effect of psoralen on viability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was detected by MTT assay. Osteogenic induction combined with alkaline phosphatase staining was used to determine the optimal dose of psoralen to restore the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells inhibited by cyclophosphamide. The mRNA expression levels of Runx2, alkaline phosphatase, Osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related genes Wnt1, Wnt4, Wnt10b, β-catenin, and c-MYC were measured by RT-qPCR at different time points under the intervention with psoralen. The protein expression of osteogenic specific transcription factor Runx2 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway related genes Active β-catenin, DKK1, c-MYC, and Cyclin D1 was determined by western blot assay at different time points under the intervention with psoralen. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) There was no significant effect of different concentrations of psoralen on the viability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. The best recovery of the inhibition of osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells caused by cyclophosphamide was under the intervention of psoralen at a concentration of 200 μmol/L. (2) Psoralen reversed the reduction in osteogenic differentiation marker genes Runx2, alkaline phosphatase, Osteocalcin and osteoprotegerin mRNA expression and Runx2 protein expression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells caused by cyclophosphamide conditioned medium. (3) Psoralen reversed the decrease in Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related genes Wnt4, β-catenin, c-MYC mRNA and Active β-catenin, c-MYC, and Cyclin D1 protein expression and the increase in DKK1 protein expression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells caused by cyclophosphamide conditioned medium. (4) The results showed that cyclophosphamide inhibited osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in mice, and psoralen had a restorative effect on it. The best intervention effect was achieved at a concentration of 200 μmol/L psoralen, and this protective effect might be related to the activation of Wnt4/β-catenin signaling pathway by psoralen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photosensitizer mechanism by the psoralen (PSO) reacts to produce reactive oxygen species has not been thoroughly studied; thus, this work was carried out a study of the reaction and mechanism involved in the photosensitizer activity of PSO, employing M06‐2X/6‐311++G(d,p) of the density functional theory. There is a competition between the generation of radical anion superoxide (type I mechanism) and the singlet oxygen molecule (type II mechanism) in lipid media; therefore, the ROS anion superoxide and singlet oxygen could be formed as products of the reaction involved in the photosensitizer activity of PSO in lipid media. In aqueous media, the reaction involved in the photosensitizer activity of PSO was only attributed to the type I mechanism; hence, in aqueous media, the photosensitizer activity of PSO yielded the anion superoxide. The present study supports the photosensitizer activity of the PSO in lipid and aqueous media. It enhances the knowledge of these reactions in different media and their application to reactivity, including the physiology media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Energy delivered at different wavelengths causes different types of damage to DNA. Methods: PC-3, FaDu, 4T1 and B16-F10 cells were irradiated with different wavelengths of ultraviolet light (UVA/UVC) and ionizing radiation (X-ray). Furthermore, different photosensitizers (ortho-iodo-Hoechst33258/psoralen/trioxsalen) were tested for their amplifying effect. Survival fraction and damage analysis using the γ H2A.X assay (double-strand breaks) and the ELISA assay (cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers) were compared. Results: The PC-3 cells were found to be the most sensitive cells to the treatment strategies used. FaDu and PC-3 showed a strong sensitivity to UVA. Analysis of the damage showed that the cell lines exhibited different sensitivities. Conclusions: Thus, an enhancing effect of photosensitizers (PS) in combination with UVA could be demonstrated in some cases. However, this is cell- and dose-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transethosomal (TE) formulations of the curcumin, psoralen prepared were mixed and checked for its stability, in-vitro release and effectiveness against psoriasis (in-vivo). Prepared TE-Curcumin and TE-Psoralen mixed at different ratio and checked the possibility of incompatibility by analyzing the vesicle size & zeta potential using zeta sizer and leaching % for both curcumin & psoralen at different formulation ratio (1:1, 1:10 and 10:1 w.r.t. Curcumin and Psoralen TE formulations). Leaching was further evaluated by in-vitro release of Curcumin and Psoralen through membrane using Franz's diffusion cell at 1:1 ratio of Curcumin and Psoralen TE formulations. In vivo and biochemical study at the sum of different concentrations of Curcumin and Psoralen TE formulations expected to show the same effect if not having any synergism. Stability study outcome revealed no incompatibility of two formulation mixture with respect to vesicle size, zeta potential, leaching % upto 2 months while at 3 months the leaching % was increased near to 5% for all the ratios of Curcumin and Psoralen TE formulations. The % release of the drug was more for curcumin than psoralen while curcumin release was less and psoralen was more than their individual TE formulation counterparts. The in-vivo study revealed the positive synergism at 5:0.2 (i.e. the mixture 5 µM TE-Curcumin and 10 µM TE-Psoralen). The in vivo result was not supported by the level of IL-17 and IL-23 estimated from the psoriatic tissues. The mixture of the TE formulation of Curcumin and Psoralen were having good stability, no incompatibility w.r.t leaching and % release through membrane while efficacy of the combination was synergistic for psoriasis. The study need more support from the biochemical relation as selected biochemical were not able to establish the relation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural products have always served as an important source of drugs for treating various diseases. Among various privileged natural product scaffolds, the benzopyrone class of compounds has a substantial presence among biologically active compounds. One of the pioneering anticoagulant drugs, warfarin approved in 1954 bears a benzo‐α‐pyrone (coumarin) nucleus. The widely investigated psoriasis drugs, methoxsalen, and trioxsalen, also contain a benzo‐α‐pyrone nucleus. Benzo‐γ‐pyrone (chromone) containing drugs, cromoglic acid, and pranlukast were approved as treatments for asthma in 1982 and 2007, respectively. Numerous other small molecules with a benzopyrone core are under clinical investigation. The present review discusses the discovery, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion properties, and synthetic approaches for the Food and Drug Administration‐approved and clinical‐stage benzopyrone class of compounds. The role of the pyrone core in biological activity has also been discussed. The present review unravels the potential of benzopyrone core in medicinal chemistry and drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, natural products have gradually become an important source for new drug development due to their advantages of multi-components,multi-targets, and good safety profiles. Psoralen, a furanocoumarin compound extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine psoralea corylifolia, is widely distributed among various plants. It has attracted widespread attention in the research community due to its pharmacological activities, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. Studies have shown that psoralen has broad spectrum antitumor activities, offering resistance to malignant tumors such as breast cancer, liver cancer, glioma, and osteosarcoma, making it a natural, novel potential antitumor drug. Psoralen mainly exerts its antitumor effects by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis, inhibiting tumor cell migration, and reversing multidrug resistance, presenting a wide application prospect in the field of antitumor therapy. With the deepening research on psoralea corylifolia, its safety has attracted attention, and reports on the hepatotoxicity of psoralen have gradually increased. Therefore, this article reviews recent studies on the mechanism of antitumor effects of psoralen and focuses on the molecular mechanisms of its hepatotoxicity, providing insights for the clinical development of low-toxicity, highefficiency antitumor drugs and the safety of clinical medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the synthesis of methyl-substituted psoralen derivatives and their potential for DNA photocrosslinking. Psoralen is a natural compound used in skin disease treatment, but it can have toxic and mutagenic effects. The researchers aimed to enhance the reactivity of psoralen and control crosslinked product formation by adding methyl substituents at specific positions. They developed a synthetic method for creating psoralen derivatives and tested their photocrosslinking abilities with DNA. The results showed that the presence of methyl substituents reduced the formation of harmful diadducts. The article suggests further research to explore different psoralen derivatives and investigate their photocrosslinking properties. [Extracted from the article]

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant subtype of breast cancer (BC) with a poor prognosis. Currently, chemotherapy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy continue to have limited efficacy in TNBC. With the deepening of research, nano targeted therapy shows a good application prospect in TNBC. Psoralen (PSO), an active component of Psoralea corylifolia, has significant advantages in inhibiting the growth of TNBC, but its poor solubility hampers its clinical practice. In this study, injectable psoralen polymer lipid nanoparticles (PSO-PLNs) were developed to deliver the hydrophobic drug to the target site and improve bioavailability. These nanoparticles were fully characterized in terms of morphology, particle size, surface zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, drug loading, stability, and in vitro release profile. Besides, structural characteristics were determined by ultraviolet (UV) and infrared spectroscopy. Finally, in vivo pharmacokinetic studies of PSO-PLNs were performed in rats. The characteristic absorption of PSO and PSO-PLNs appeared in UV, indicating that PSO-PLNs had encapsulated PSO; there was no obvious characteristic absorption of PSO in infrared spectra, indicating that PSO was mostly encapsulated in the nano-shell. PSO-PLNs could maintain stable physicochemical properties for 1.5 months when stored at 4 °C. PSO-PLNs selectively released PSO at pH 6.5, and the sustained and controlled release effect was significantly different from that of PSO (p

Phytophotodermatitis is a condition caused by contamination of the skin with phototoxic plant substances, followed by exposure to ultraviolet rays. Ficus carica L 1753, belonging to the Moraceae family, can be responsible for acute photodermatitis. We present five cases of photodermatitis caused by contact with Ficus carica L and subsequent exposure to sunlight. A histopathologic study and review of the literature are included.

Background: Energy delivered at different wavelengths causes different types of damage to DNA. Methods: PC-3, FaDu, 4T1 and B16-F10 cells were irradiated with different wavelengths of ultraviolet light (UVA/UVC) and ionizing radiation (X-ray). Furthermore, different photosensitizers (ortho-iodo-Hoechst33258/psoralen/trioxsalen) were tested for their amplifying effect. Survival fraction and damage analysis using the γH2A.X assay (double-strand breaks) and the ELISA assay (cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers) were compared. Results: The PC-3 cells were found to be the most sensitive cells to the treatment strategies used. FaDu and PC-3 showed a strong sensitivity to UVA. Analysis of the damage showed that the cell lines exhibited different sensitivities. Conclusions: Thus, an enhancing effect of photosensitizers (PS) in combination with UVA could be demonstrated in some cases. However, this is cell- and dose-dependent.

Objective To observe the promotional effects of psoralen on proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs), and to explore their mechanism. Methods The third-generation hPDLSCs were divided into six groups: the control group and 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 μmol/L psoralen groups, respectively. HPDLSCs in the 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 μmol/L psoralen groups were treated with 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 μmol/L psoralen, and hPDLSCs in the control group were cultured normally. Cell proliferation capacity was measured by CCK-8 assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity by colorimetric method, and mineralization nodules by alizarin red staining. Another third-generation hPDLSCs were divided into two groups: the control group and 25 μmol/L psoralen group. Cells in the 25 μmol/L psoralen group were treated with 25 μmol/L psoralen, while cells in the control group were cultured normally. Transcription factor 2 (Runx 2) and osteopontin (OPN) mRNA were detected by RT-PCR. Results Compared with the control group, cell proliferation capacity and ALP activity increased in the 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 μmol/L psoralen groups, and mineralization nodules increased in the 25 μmol/L psoralen group (all P<0. 05) . Compared with the 5 μmol/L psoralen group, cell proliferative capacity increased in the 25, 50 and 100 μmol/L psoralen groups, ALP activity increased in the 10 and 25 μmol/L psoralen groups, and mineralization nodules increased in the 25 μmol/L psoralen group (all P<0. 05) . Compared with the 10 μmol/L psoralen group, cell proliferation capacity increased in the 25, 50 and 100 μmol/L psoralen groups (all P<0. 05) . Compared with the 25 μmol/L group, ALP activity decreased in the 50 and 100 μmol/L psoralen groups (all P<0. 05) . Compared with the control group, relative expression levels of Runx 2 and OPN mRNA increased in the 25 μmol/L psoralen group (all P<0. 05) . Conclusions Psoralen of 5-100 μmol/L promotes the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs. It shows a dose-dependent enhancement at 5 to 25 μmol/L, and there is no obvious change at 50 to 100 μmol/L. The mechanism of psoralen promoting the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs may be related to the regulation of Runx 2 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoralen is a family of naturally occurring photoactive compounds found in plants that acquire potential cytotoxicity when activated by specific frequencies of electromagnetic waves. Psoralens penetrate the phospholipid cellular membranes and insert themselves between the pyrimidines of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Psoralens are initially biologically inert and acquire photoreactivity when exposed to certain classes of electromagnetic radiation, such as ultraviolet light. Once activated, psoralens form mono- and di-adducts with DNA, leading to marked cell apoptosis. This apoptotic effect is more pronounced in tumor cells due to their high rate of cell division. Moreover, photoactivated psoralen can inhibit tyrosine kinase signaling and influence the immunogenic properties of cells. Thus, the cytotoxicity of photoactivated psoralen holds promising clinical applications from its immunogenic properties to potential anti-cancer treatments. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of the current understanding and research on psoralen and to explore its potential future pharmacotherapeutic benefits in specific diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective To explore the mechanism of psoralen synergized with exosomes (exos)-loaded SPC25 on nucleus pulposus (NP) cell senescence in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Methods IVDD cellular models were established on NP cells by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) induction, followed by the treatment of psoralen or/and exos from adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) transfected with SPC25 overexpression vector (ADSCs-oe-SPC25-Exos). The viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, and senescence of NP cells were examined, accompanied by the expression measurement of aggrecan, COL2A1, Bcl-2, Bax, CDK2, p16, and p21. Results After TBHP-induced NP cells were treated with psoralen or ADSCs-oe-SPC25-Exos, cell proliferation and the expression of aggrecan, COL2A1, Bcl-2, and CDK2 were promoted; however, the expression of Bax, p16, p21, and inflammatory factors was decreased, and cell senescence, cycle arrest, and apoptosis were inhibited. Of note, psoralen combined with ADSCs-oe-SPC25-Exos further decelerated NP cell senescence and cycle arrest compared to psoralen or ADSCs-oe-SPC25-Exos alone. Conclusion Combined treatment of psoralen and ADSCs-oe-SPC25-Exos exerted an alleviating effect on NP cell senescence, which may provide an insightful idea for IVDD treatment.

A high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method was built to determine icarside, hyperoside and psoralen in food. The samples were extracted with 70% methanol, the solid and semi-solid hotpot seasoning samples were purified by solid phase extraction column, and then determined by HPLC-MS/MS. Acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid solution were used as the mobile phase, and the gradient elution was adopted for analysis. As shown in the results, the analytes had good linearity in the range of 0.05−100 ng/mL, and the correlation coeffificients (R2) were greater than 0.999. In this method, the limits of quantitation (LOQ) of psoralen, icariside and hyperoside in liquid samples were 1.25, 25.0 and 12.5 μg/L respectively; while the LOQs of psoralen, icariside and hyperoside in solid samples and hotpot seasoning samples were 1.25, 25.0 and 12.5 μg/kg, respectively. The liquid beverage, solid beverage, health food (in the form of oral liquid, capsule, tablet), integrated alcoholic beverage and solid hotpot seasoning were selected as representative samples and used for method validation. The average spiked recoveries at 3 levels (LOQ, 2 LOQ, 10 LOQ) were in the range of 83.7%−115.0%, and the relative standard deviations were in range of 0.5%−9.4% (n = 6). The method is rapid, accurate and sensitive, which is suitable for the simultaneous determination of icariside, hyperoside and psoralen in different food matrices.

ABSTRACTUropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the primary causative agent of lower urinary tract infection (UTI). UTI presents a serious health risk and has considerable secondary implications including economic burden, recurring episodes, and overuse of antibiotics. A safe and effective vaccine would address this widespread health problem and emerging antibiotic resistance. Killed, whole-cell vaccines have shown limited efficacy to prevent recurrent UTI in human trials. We explored photochemical inactivation with psoralen drugs and UVA light (PUVA), which crosslinks nucleic acid, as an alternative to protein-damaging methods of inactivation to improve whole-cell UTI vaccines. Exposure of UPEC to the psoralen drug AMT and UVA light resulted in a killed but metabolically active (KBMA) state, as reported previously for other PUVA-inactivated bacteria. The immunogenicity of PUVA-UPEC as compared to formalin-inactivated UPEC was compared in mice. Both generated high UPEC-specific serum IgG titers after intramuscular delivery. However, using functional adherence as a measure of surface protein integrity, we found differences in the properties of PUVA- and formalin-inactivated UPEC. Adhesion mediated by Type-1 and P-fimbriae was severely compromised by formalin but was unaffected by PUVA, indicating that PUVA preserved the functional conformation of fimbrial proteins, which are targets of protective immune responses. In vitro assays indicated that although they retained metabolic activity, PUVA-UPEC lost virulence properties that could negatively impact vaccine safety. Our results imply the potential for PUVA to improve killed, whole-cell UTI vaccines by generating bacteria that more closely resemble their live, infectious counterparts relative to vaccines generated with protein-damaging methods.IMPORTANCELower urinary tract infection (UTI), caused primarily by uropathogenic Escherichia coli, represents a significant health burden, accounting for 7 million primary care and 1 million emergency room visits annually in the United States. Women and the elderly are especially susceptible and recurrent infection (rUTI) is common in those populations. Lower UTI can lead to life-threatening systemic infection. UTI burden is manifested by healthcare dollars spent (1.5 billion annually), quality of life impact, and resistant strains emerging from antibiotic overuse. A safe and effective vaccine to prevent rUTI would address a substantial healthcare issue. Vaccines comprised of inactivated uropathogenic bacteria have yielded encouraging results in clinical trials but improvements that enhance vaccine performance are needed. To that end, we focused on inactivation methodology and provided data to support photochemical inactivation, which targets nucleic acid, as a promising alternative to conventional protein-damaging inactivation methods to improve whole-cell UTI vaccines.

[Objectives] To explore the effect of psoralen combined with paclitaxel on the apoptosis of MCF-7 cells. [Methods] The effects of different concentrations of psoralen, paclitaxel, or the combination of psoralen and paclitaxel on cell viability were detected using CCK-8 as- say kit. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis after 24 h of psoralen (0.16, 0.32, 0.64 mmol/L), paclitaxel (0.1 µmol/L), combined action of psoralen (0.32 mmol/L) and paclitaxel (0.1 µmol/L) were detected using flow cytometry. [Results] Lower concentration of psoralen (0.04-0.32 mmol/L) showed no significant inhibitory effect on cells. After combined with paclitaxel, the inhibitory effect on MCF-7 cell proliferation was significantly higher than that of the group treated alone. Compared with the paclitaxel group, the cell apoptosis rate in the drug combination group was significantly increased. Different low concentrations of psoralen can block the cell cycle of MCF-7 at Go/G, phase, while paclitaxel can block the cell cycle at G₂/M phase. After combined action, the number of cells blocked at G₂/M phase decreased. [Conclusions] Overall, the combined effect of psoralen and paclitaxel can enhance anti-tumor ability by inhibiting cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis, and blocking cell cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a case of palmate erythema with pruritus following contact with lime juice, a variant of "Margarita Photodermatitis." The condition, known as phototoxic dermatitis or phytophotodermatitis, results from the interaction of plant-derived substances with UV light, causing inflammation and erythema. The patient in the case report developed this dermatitis after handling lime juice and sun exposure, highlighting the importance of recognizing and addressing this dermatological complication. Preventive measures, such as consistent sun protection, are crucial in mitigating risks associated with such conditions, particularly during outdoor activities in the summer months. [Extracted from the article]

BACKGROUND: Because of the poor regeneration ability of chondrocytes after damage, the use of stem cells as a basic treatment for repairing cartilage damage has become a popular treatment method. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of psoralen combined with transforming growth factor β1 on the differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes. METHODS: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats and cultured by marrow adherent method. The effective concentration to promote bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells proliferation was selected by CCK-8 assay. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were assigned to four groups. In the normal control group, cells were treated with low-sugar DMEM with 10% fetal bovine serum and 100 U/mL double antibodies. In the psoralen group, cells were treated with low-sugar DMEM with 10% fetal bovine serum, 100 U/mL double antibodies, 10-7 mol/L dexamethasone, 50 mg/L vitamin C, and 10 μmol/L psoralen. In the combination group, cells were treated with low-sugar DMEM with 10% fetal bovine serum, 100 U/mL double antibodies, 10 μg/L transforming growth factor β1, 10-7 mol/L dexamethasone, 50 mg/L vitamin C, and 10 μmol/L psoralen. In the positive control group, cells were treated with low-sugar DMEM with 10% fetal bovine serum, 100 U/mL double antibodies, 10 μg/L transforming growth factor β1, 10-7 mol/L dexamethasone, and 50 mg/L vitamin C. After 21 days, the expression of type ll collagen was detected by immunocytochemistry. RT-PCR and western blot assay were utilized to detect the expression levels of differentiation marker SOX-9 and type ll collagen mRNA and protein. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Immunocytochemical staining showed that no positive cells were found in the normal control group, while type ll collagen positive cells were found in the other three groups. (2) Compared with the normal control group, the expression of SOX9 and type II collagen mRNA and protein increased significantly in the psoralen group, combination group and positive control group (P < 0.05), and the combination group had the best effect (P < 0.01), and it was significantly better than that in the positive control group and the psoralen group (P < 0.05). (3) The results show that within a certain concentration range, psoralen can promote the proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Psoralen can induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into cartilage, and its combined use with transforming growth factor β1 has a synergistic promoting effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the mechanism of psoralen synergized with exosomes (exos)-loaded SPC25 on nucleus pulposus (NP) cell senescence in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Methods: IVDD cellular models were established on NP cells by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) induction, followed by the treatment of psoralen or/and exos from adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) transfected with SPC25 overexpression vector (ADSCs-oe-SPC25-Exos). The viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, and senescence of NP cells were examined, accompanied by the expression measurement of aggrecan, COL2A1, Bcl-2, Bax, CDK2, p16, and p21. Results: After TBHP-induced NP cells were treated with psoralen or ADSCs-oe-SPC25-Exos, cell proliferation and the expression of aggrecan, COL2A1, Bcl-2, and CDK2 were promoted; however, the expression of Bax, p16, p21, and inflammatory factors was decreased, and cell senescence, cycle arrest, and apoptosis were inhibited. Of note, psoralen combined with ADSCs-oe-SPC25-Exos further decelerated NP cell senescence and cycle arrest compared to psoralen or ADSCs-oe-SPC25-Exos alone. Conclusion: Combined treatment of psoralen and ADSCs-oe-SPC25-Exos exerted an alleviating effect on NP cell senescence, which may provide an insightful idea for IVDD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of psoralen (PS), a major active component extracted from Psoralea corylifolia L. seed, in renal fibrosis is still unclear. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of PS on the development and progression of renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in a mouse model. Mice were divided into four groups: PS (20 mg/kg, i.g., n = 5), PS + sham (n = 5), UUO (n = 10), and PS + UUO (n = 10). PS was intragastrically administered 24 h before UUO and continued afterwards for 7 days. All mice were killed 7 days post UUO. Severe tubular atrophy, tubular injury, and tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) were significantly developed in UUO mice. A higher expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) was accompanied by elevated levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and phosphorylated Smad2/3 (pSmad2/3) at 7 days post UUO. However, PS treatment reduced tubular injury, interstitial fibrosis, and the expression levels of TGF-β1, α-SMA, and pSmad2/3. Furthermore, the levels of macrophages (represented by F4/80 positive cells) and the inflammasome, reflected by inflammasome markers such as nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptors protein 3 (NLRP3) and cleaved caspase1 (cCASP-1), were significantly decreased by PS treatment. These results suggest that PS merits further exploration as a therapeutic agent in the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limei Lin, Yin Zhang Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yin Zhang, Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, 362000, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13328579972, Email zyin1973@163.comPurpose: To evaluate the dichloromethane extract of Ficus carica leaves (FCL) had a hypoglycemic impact in diabetic mice, as well as to identify the bioactive components in the extract and analyze their anti-hyperglycemia potential in HepG2 cells.Material and Methods: The antidiabetic activity of dichloromethane extract of Ficus carica leaves was evaluated in diabetic mice induced by streptozotocin (STZ,100 mg/kg) combined with high-fat diet. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood lipids, oral glucose tolerance, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and pathological change effects of the extract were measured after administering two doses of the extract (500 and 1000 mg/kg). On the other hand, we used column chromatography to isolate the dichloromethane extract, and we structurally identified the compounds based on 1H NMR and 3C NMR spectra. The hypoglycemic activity of isolated compounds was investigated in palmitic acid (PA)-induced HepG2 cells.Results: FCL extract lowers blood glucose and improves blood lipids and the pancreatic β-cell also tend to recover whether the psoralen is removed or not. Meanwhile, three coumarins except psoralen were isolated from dichloromethane extract: 3,4-dihydropsoralen, umbelliferone and 7-hydroxyl-6-methylcoumarin. Psoralen and umbelliferone promoted glucose uptake in HepG2 cells.Discussion and Conclusion: In vivo experiments, dichloromethane extract of FCL has potential antidiabetic activity, mainly by lowering blood glucose, improving blood lipids, glucose tolerance and repairing pancreatic islet damage, which justifies its use in the treatment of diabetes in Spanish folklore. Additionally, in vitro experiments, psoralen and umbelliferone demonstrated substantial glucose-lowering activity.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: FCL, diabetes, dichloromethane extract, psoralen, umbelliferone

The compaction of linear DNA into micrometer-sized nuclear boundaries involves the establishment of specific three-dimensional (3D) DNA structures complexed with histone proteins that form chromatin. The resulting structures modulate essential nuclear processes such as transcription, replication, and repair to facilitate or impede their multi-step progression and these contribute to dynamic modification of the 3D-genome organization. It is generally accepted that protein–protein and protein–DNA interactions form the basis of 3D-genome organization. However, the constant generation of mechanical forces, torques, and other stresses produced by various proteins translocating along DNA could be playing a larger role in genome organization than currently appreciated. Clearly, a thorough understanding of the mechanical determinants imposed by DNA transactions on the 3D organization of the genome is required. We provide here an overview of our current knowledge and highlight the importance of DNA and chromatin mechanics in gene expression.

Inactivated whole-cell vaccines present a full repertoire of antigens to the immune system. Formalin treatment, a standard method for microbial inactivation, can modify or destroy protein antigenic epitopes. We tested the hypothesis that photochemical inactivation with psoralen and UVA light (PUVA), which targets nucleic acid, would improve the immunogenicity of an Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) vaccine relative to a formalin-inactivated counterpart. Exposure of ETEC H10407 to PUVA using the psoralen drug 4′-Aminomethyltrioxsalen hydrochloride (AMT) yielded replication-incompetent bacteria that retained their metabolic activity. CFA/I-mediated mannose-resistant hemagglutination (MRHA) was equivalent for PUVA-inactivated and live ETEC, but was severely reduced for formalin–ETEC, indicating that PUVA preserved fimbrial protein functional integrity. The immunogenicity of PUVA–ETEC and formalin–ETEC was compared in mice ± double mutant heat-labile enterotoxin (dmLT) adjuvant. Two weeks after an intramuscular prime/boost, serum anti-ETEC IgG titers were similar for the two vaccines and were increased by dmLT. However, the IgG responses raised against several conserved ETEC proteins were greater after vaccination with PUVA–ETEC. In addition, PUVA–ETEC generated IgG specific for heat-labile toxin (LT) in the absence of dmLT, which was not a property of formalin–ETEC. These data are consistent with PUVA preserving ETEC protein antigens in their native-like form and justify the further testing of PUVA as a vaccine platform for ETEC using murine challenge models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is one of the most common causes of a drug being withdrawn, and identifying the culprit drugs and the host factors at risk of causing DILI has become a current challenge. Recent studies have found that immune status plays a considerable role in the development of DILI. In this study, DILI-related differentially expressed genes mediated by immunoinflammatory cytokines were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to predict the occurrence of DILI (named the DILI predictive gene set, DILI_PGS), and the predictability of the DILI_PGS was verified using the Connectivity Map (CMap) and LiverTox platforms. The results obtained DILI_PGS from the GEO database could predict 81.25% of liver injury drugs. In addition, the Coexpedia platform was used to predict the DILI_PGS-related characteristics of common host diseases and found that the DILI_PGS mainly involved immune-related diseases and tumor-related diseases. Then, animal models of immune stress (IS) and immunosuppressive (IP) were selected to simulate the immune status of the above diseases. Meanwhile, psoralen, a main component derived from Psoralea corylifolia Linn. with definite hepatotoxicity, was selected as an experimental drug with highly similar molecular fingerprints to three idiosyncratic hepatotoxic drugs (nefazodone, trovafloxacin, and nimesulide) from the same DILI_PGS dataset. The animal experiment results found a single administration of psoralen could significantly induce liver injury in IS mice, while there was no obvious liver function change in IP mice by repeatedly administering the same dose of psoralen, and the potential mechanism of psoralen-induced liver injury in IS mice may be related to regulating the expression of the TNF-related pathway. In conclusion, this study constructed the DILI_PGS with high accuracy to predict the occurrence of DILI and preliminarily identified the characteristics of host factors inducing DILI.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is the main cause of tooth loss in adults, and the key to periodontitis treatment is the repair and regenerate of periodontal bone tissue. Psoralen is the main component of the Psoralea corylifolia Linn, which shows antibacterial, anti-inflammatoryand osteogenic activities. It promotes the differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells toward osteogenesis. Exosomes secreted by stem cells play important roles in information transmission during the osteogenic differentiation process. The aim of this paper was to investigate the role of psoralen in regulating osteogenic miRNA information in periodontal stem cells and in periodontal stem cells exosomes and the specific mechanism of its action. Experimental results show that exosomes of human periodontal ligament stem cell origin treated with psoralen (hPDLSCs + Pso-Exos) were not significantly different from untreated exosomes (hPDLSC-Exos) in terms of size and morphology. Thirty-five differentially expressed miRNAs were found to be upregulated and 58 differentially expressed miRNAs were found to be downregulated in the hPDLSCs + Pso-Exos compared to the hPDLSC-Exos (P < 0.05). hsa-miR-125b-5p was associated with osteogenic differentiation. Among them, hsa-miR-125b-5p was associated with osteogenic differentiation. After hsa-miR-125b-5p was inhibited, the osteogenesis level of hPDLSCs was enhanced. In summary, the osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs was promoted by psoralen through the downregulation of hsa-miR-125b-5p gene expression in hPDLSCs, and the expression of the hsa-miR-125b-5p gene was also downregulated in exosomes. This finding provides a new therapeutic idea for using psoralen to promote periodontal tissue regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoralen is a major component of Fructus Psoraleae that could induce liver injury. In this study, C57BL/6J mice were administered with psoralen at doses of 80 mg/kg for 3, 7 and 14 days. Blood and liver samples were collected for serum biochemistry and histopathology examinations, respectively. Psoralen led to liver injury with significantly increased liver weight and liver coefficient and up regulated serum ALT, AST and TG but down regulated serum TC and TP. The expression of bile acid‐associated transporters and enzymes was detected by western blot, and the results showed that psoralen significantly down‐regulates the expressions of CYP7A1, CYP27A1, BSEP and OSTα protein while up‐regulates the expressions of HMGCR and FASN, resulting in the obstacles of bile acid efflux in the liver. The contents of 24 kinds of bile acids in the liver were measured by LC–MS/MS, and the results showed that psoralen led to the accumulation of unconjugated bile acids in the liver, such as ALCA and CA, which were more severe in male mice than female mice. It was indicated that psoralen may disrupt the balance of bile acid metabolism by inhibiting the expression of the efflux transporter, which then leads to liver damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracorporeal photopheresis is a non-invasive therapy used for the treatment of a range of T cell disorders, including cutaneous T cell lymphoma. During extracorporeal photopheresis, peripheral blood is removed from the patient and the white blood cells are separated from whole blood via centrifugation. The white blood cells are exposed to psoralen (a photosensitizing agent) and ultraviolet A radiation, causing cell apoptosis. The apoptotic leukocytes are subsequently re-infused into the patient, resulting in the production of tumor suppressor cells and clinical improvement. Extracorporeal photopheresis is generally regarded as safe with few side effects. We report a dermatology patient who developed anaphylaxis after receiving extracorporeal photopheresis for the treatment of leukemic mycosis fungoides. We suspect that our patient's anaphylaxis resulted from exposure to an agent used in extracorporeal photopheresis.

• DNA polymerases catalyze primer extension on DNA microarrays to generate dsDNA libraries. • Psoralen-mediated photocrosslinking immobilizes the DNA on the surface. • Specific template degradation with T7 exonuclease yields ssDNA. • Enzymatic conversion is applicable to commercial DNA microarrays. • Base-modified dNTPs can be inserted during primer extension. DNA microarrays are very useful tools to study the realm of nucleic acids interactions at high throughput. The conventional approach to microarray synthesis employs phosphoramidite chemistry and yields unmodified DNA generally attached to a surface at the 3′ terminus. Having a freely accessible 3′–OH instead of 5′–OH is desirable too, and being able to introduce nucleoside analogs in a combinatorial manner is highly relevant in the context of nucleic acid therapeutics and in aptamer research. Here, we describe an enzymatic approach to the synthesis of high-density DNA microarrays that can also contain chemical modifications. The method uses a standard DNA microarray, to which a DNA primer is covalently bound through photocrosslinking. The extension of the primer with a DNA polymerase yields double-stranded DNA but is also amenable to the incorporation of modified dNTPs. Further processing with T7 exonuclease, which catalyzes the degradation of DNA in a specific (5′→3′) direction, results in template strand removal. Overall, the method produces surface-bound natural and non-natural DNA oligonucleotides, is applicable to commercial microarrays and paves the way for the preparation of combinatorial, chemically modified aptamer libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To search a novel lead structure for antiphytopathogenic fungus agent, a series of novel psoralen derivatives possessing sulfonohydrazide or acylthiourea structure were designed and synthesized, and their fungicidal activity against seven phytopathogens was evaluated. Their structures were confirmed by melting points, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS, and the typical crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction for validation. Preliminary fungicidal activity showed that some of the title compounds exhibited certain-to-high fungicidal activity. Compound I-13 exhibited good fungicidal activity against Botrytis cinerea, Cercospora arachidicola and Physalospora piricola with EC50 values of 12.49, 13.22 and 12.12 μg/mL, respectively. Compounds II-9 and II-15 showed over 90% inhibition against B. cinerea at 50 μg/mL in vitro. In particular, II-9 exhibited significant higher fungicidal activity with a lower EC50 value of 9.09 μg/mL than the positive control YZK-C22 (13.41 μg/mL). Our studies found that sulfonohydrazide or acylthiourea-containing psoralen derivatives were promising fungicide leads deserve for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Repairing radiation-induced bone injuries remains a significant challenge in the clinic, and few effective medicines are currently available. Psoralen is a principal bioactive component of Cullen corylifolium (L.) Medik and has been reported to have antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and pro-osteogenesis activities. However, less information is available regarding the role of psoralen in the treatment of radiation-induced bone injury. In this study, we explored the modulatory effects of psoralen on skeletal stem cells and their protective effects on radiation-induced bone injuries. Methods The protective effects of psoralen on radiation-induced osteoporosis and irradiated bone defects were evaluated by microCT and pathological analysis. In addition, the cell proliferation, osteogenesis, and self-renewal of SSCs were explored. Further, the underlying mechanisms of the protective of psoralen were investigated by using RNA sequencing and functional gain and loss experiments in vitro and in vivo. Statistical significance was analyzed using Student's t test. The one-way ANOVA was used in multiple group data analysis. Results Here, we demonstrated that psoralen, a natural herbal extract, mitigated radiation-induced bone injury (irradiation-induced osteoporosis and irradiated bone defects) in mice partially by rescuing the stemness of irradiated skeletal stem cells. Mechanistically, psoralen restored the stemness of skeletal stem cells by alleviating the radiation-induced suppression of AKT/GSK-3β and elevating NRF2 expression in skeletal stem cells. Furthermore, the expression of KEAP1 in skeletal stem cells did not significantly change in the presence of psoralen. Moreover, blockade of NRF2 in vivo partially abolished the promising effects of psoralen in a murine model of irradiation-induced osteoporosis and irradiated bone regeneration. Conclusions In summary, our findings identified psoralen as a potential medicine to mitigate bone radiation injury. In addition, skeletal stem cells and AKT-GSK-3β and NRF2 may thus represent therapeutic targets for treating radiation-induced bone injury. Graphical Abstract

Psoralen is a main active molecule of the traditional Chinese herb medicine Fructus Psoraleae. Our previous studies have shown that psoralen induced liver injury through the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) signaling pathways. In this article, we studied whether the ERS inhibitor, 4-phenylbutyrate acid (4-PBA) could inhibit the liver toxicity caused by psoralen, and explored the underlying mechanisms. Mice were given the solvent, 20 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, 80 mg/kg of psoralen, or 80 mg/kg of psoralen plus 4-PBA for 14 days. We found that 4-PBA significantly reduced the serum LDH and liver tissue MDA level, increased the activities of SOD and CAT, reduced liver weight and coefficient, repaired histopathological damage, and inhibited hepatocytes apoptosis induced by psoralen. RNA-seq transcriptomics found that except for the endoplasmic reticulum, the mitochondria was severely affected by psoralen. And genes involved in mitochondrial fusion, apoptosis, protein folding, and autophagy were found differently expressed in the psoralen group. Further studies found that 4-PBA inhibited the overexpression of GRP78 and CHOP, increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and reduced the expression of Caspase-3. Moreover, 4-PBA reduced the overexpression of mitochondrial fission protein DRP1, increased the expression of fusion proteins Mfn-2 and OPA1, but has no inhibitory effects on autophagy proteins Atg5 or LC3A/B. In conclusion, 4-PBA inhibited ERS and reestablished mitochondrial fusion-fission balance, thereby blocking cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction, thus prevented against psoralen-induced hepatotoxicity. [Display omitted] • we determined the hepatotoxicity of psoralen in this study. • 4-PBA suppressed psoralen-induced hepatotoxicity by inhibiting ERS. • 4-PBA suppressed psoralen-induced hepatotoxicity by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis. • To explore the underlying toxic mechanism of psoralen on the liver by the RNA-Seq. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) disodium was first chosen as catalyst to convert psoralenoside (PO) to psoralen (PSO) for increasing the extraction yield of PSO. An efficient continuous system for synchronous transformation and extraction of PSO from fig leaves applying microwave-assisted EDTA disodium (MAE-EDTA) was developed. The optimal MAE-EDTA condition was obtained: EDTA disodium concentration of 0.07 mol·L−1, ethanol volume fraction of 56%, extraction time of 16 min, and extraction temperature of 70 °C by single factor experiments and response surface method (RSM). Under the optimal condition, the yield of PSO reached 27.24 mg·g−1. Compared with microwave-assisted ethanol extraction (MAE) and reflux extraction (RE), the yield of PSO by MAE-EDTA is 2.03-fold higher than RE and 1.70-fold higher than MAE. Therefore, MAE-EDTA is an efficient method for extracting PSO from fig leaves, and it might provide references for the extraction of PSO from other medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focuses on the effects of individual and combined stress of chromium (Cr) and ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on Psoralea corylifolia L. The experiment comprised four sets: (i) control, (ii) eUV-B (elevated UV-B i.e., ambient + 7.2 kJ m−2 day−1 UV-B), (iii) Cr (chromium; 30 mg kg−1 soil), and (iv) Cr + eUV-B (chromium and elevated UV-B; Cr 30 mg kg−1 and ambient + 7.2 kJ m−2 day−1 UV-B). The eUV-B and Cr individually and in combination showed the variable responses on ultrastructure, physiology and biomass however, the impact was more prominent under individual Cr treatment followed by Cr + eUV-B and eUV-B. Higher bioconcentration factor and the lowered translocation factor consequently led to a higher reduction in the below ground biomass and the lesser reduction in above ground biomass under Cr + eUV-B treatment as compared to individual Cr treatment. In addition, higher induction in the enzymatic (glutathione reductase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione-S-transferase) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (glutathione reduced) were found to be responsible for efficient scavenging of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radical leading to lowered MDA content under combined treatment as compared to Cr treatment. Deposition of Cr as electron dense granules in the cytoplasm, vacuoles, and cell wall under Cr and Cr + eUV-B is contemplated as one of the cellular mechanisms of P. corylifolia against the toxicity of Cr. Psoralen increased under all treatments with a maximum increase under Cr + eUV-B treatment. Taken together our results accentuated that P. corylifolia can be grown in an area contaminated with Cr and has a higher influx of UV-B for the attainment of psoralen considering its pharmaceutical perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted in Udhampur district of J&K, India to document the traditional knowledge regarding the treatment of vitiligo. Information was collected through questionnaires and interviews from 83 informants. Use-value (UV) and disease consensus index (DCI) were calculated to assess plant knowledge and the level of agreement for a remedy, respectively. A total of 65 plants from 42 families and 61 genera were reported by the informants. The most number of plants used for curing vitiligo belonged to families Asteraceae, Rutaceae, Fabaceae and Lamiaceae. Invariably, all these families are rich source of psoralen used in photochemotherapy of skin disorders. The most used life-form were herbs (49.2%) and trees (36.9%) easily accessible to the patient from the nearby wild (58.5%). The prominently used (high DCI) plants for curing vitiligo were Psoralea corylifolia L., Phyllanthus emblica L., Ficus carica L., and Acacia catechu (L.f.) Willd. As psoralen is the main component present in most of these species, appropriate studies may further be carried out to verify the presence of psoralen and other phytochemicals present in other species used for curing vitiligo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Possible enhancements of DNA damage with light of different wavelengths and ionizing radiation (Rhenium-188—a high energy beta emitter (Re-188)) on plasmid DNA and FaDu cells via psoralen were investigated. The biophysical experimental setup could also be used to investigate additional DNA damage due to photodynamic effects, resulting from Cherenkov light. Conformational changes of plasmid DNA due to DNA damage were detected and quantified by gel electrophoresis and fluorescent staining. The clonogene survival of the FaDu cells was analyzed with colony formation assays. Dimethyl sulfoxide was chosen as a chemical modulator, and Re-188 was used to evaluate the radiotoxicity and light (UVC: λ = 254 nm and UVA: λ = 366 nm) to determine the phototoxicity. Psoralen did not show chemotoxic effects on the plasmid DNA or FaDu cells. After additional treatment with light (only 366 nm—not seen with 254 nm), a concentration-dependent increase in single strand breaks (SSBs) was visible, resulting in a decrease in the survival fraction due to the photochemical activation of psoralen. Whilst UVC light was phototoxic, UVA light did not conclude in DNA strand breaks. Re-188 showed typical radiotoxic effects with SSBs, double strand breaks, and an overall reduced cell survival for both the plasmid DNA and FaDu cells. While psoralen and UVA light showed an increased toxicity on plasmid DNA and human cancer cells, Re-188, in combination with psoralen, did not provoke additional DNA damage via Cherenkov light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between psoralen (PSA) and cucurbit[8]uril (Q[8]) was studied by UV spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, 1H NMR and X-ray crystal diffraction. The results showed that PSA and Q[8] can form a 2:1 host–guest inclusion complex with a binding constant of 1.83 × 106 M−2. PSA and PSA2@Q[8] can be used as fluorescent probes to selectively recognize Fe3+. The recognition mechanism is due to the coordination effect of Fe3+, the electron transfer in PSA and PSA2@Q[8] reduces fluorescence intensity and leads to fluorescence quenching. The fluorescence intensity of PSA and PSA2@Q[8] showed a good linear correlation with the concentration of Fe3+ at 3.0 × 10–5–2.4 × 10–4 M and 6.0 × 10–6–4.2 × 10–5 M, and the limit of detection was 1.06 × 10–7 M and 1.05 × 10–8 M, respectively, which can quantitatively detect trace Fe3+ in aqueous solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The compaction of linear DNA into micrometer-sized nuclear boundaries involves the establishment of specific three-dimensional (3D) DNA structures complexed with histone proteins that form chromatin. The resulting structures modulate essential nuclear processes such as transcription, replication, and repair to facilitate or impede their multi-step progression and these contribute to dynamic modification of the 3D-genome organization. It is generally accepted that protein–protein and protein–DNA interactions form the basis of 3D-genome organization. However, the constant generation of mechanical forces, torques, and other stresses produced by various proteins translocating along DNA could be playing a larger role in genome organization than currently appreciated. Clearly, a thorough understanding of the mechanical determinants imposed by DNA transactions on the 3D organization of the genome is required. We provide here an overview of our current knowledge and highlight the importance of DNA and chromatin mechanics in gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phototoxicological effects of furocoumarins have been extensively studied. In association with UVA, some of these natural constituents of botanical isolates used in cosmetics, can be photoirritant, photogenotoxic and/or photocarcinogenic. Importantly, not all furocoumarins share the same degree of potency and some are inactive. The more potent furocoumarins, 8-methoxypsoralen and 5-methoxypsoralen, have been subject to extensive mechanistic studies. The formation of adducts with DNA has been widely studied but other contributary mechanisms have also been proposed. The phototoxicological effects, ranging from photoirritation to photocarcinogenicity, are dependent on the dermal dose of furocoumarin and the fluence (dose) of filtered, artificial UVA light. This is particularly evident from photocarcinogenicity studies in animals and from the effect of sequential irradiation sessions in patients receiving Psoralen-UVA (PUVA) therapy. A currently enforced limit of 1 ppm for sun bronzing and sunscreen products for which prolonged intentional exposure to UVA is likely, and 5ppm total furocoumarin concentration in other cosmetic products, e.g., facial cosmetics, that are likely to be only exposed to adventitious and intermittent UVA irradiation, provides a suitably protective threshold when compared to the UV exposure that has been used in studies on animals and in treating PUVA patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest ☒ The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Amaia Irizar reports financial support was provided by International Fragrance Association. Amaia Irizar reports a relationship with International Fragrance Association that includes: consulting or advisory. Fanny Boisleve reports a relationship with Chanel that includes: employment. Francoise Gautier reports a relationship with L’Oréal SA that includes: employment. J Frank Nash reports a relationship with The Procter & Gamble Company that includes: employment. Stefan Pfuhler reports a relationship with The Procter & Gamble Company that includes: employment. Gretchen Ritacco reports a relationship with Research Institute for Fragrance Materials that includes: employment. Matthias Vey reports a relationship with International Fragrance Association that includes: employment. Nicolas Wolf reports a relationship with LVMH Recherche that includes: employment. Peter A. Cadby reports a relationship with International Fragrance Association that includes: consulting or advisory. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

As natural furocoumarins, psoralen and its isomer isopsoralen are widely distributed in various fruits including Ficus carica L., vegetables including celery, and medicinal herbs including Psoralea corylifolia L. Although psoralen and isopsoralen have been used as dietary supplements because of their bioactivities such as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties; however, the potential mechanisms underlying the antioxidant activities of these two furocoumarins still need to be explored. Hence, the aims of this work were to examine the activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) by psoralen and isopsoralen, as well as the binding interaction of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) with these two furocoumarins. Interestingly, both psoralen and isopsoralen induced Nrf2 nuclear translocation in a dose-dependent manner in HEK293T cells. These two furanocoumarins also activated antioxidant response element (ARE)-driven luciferase activity. The mRNA expression of GCLM, HO-1, and NQO1 genes was significantly upregulated by treatment of HEK293T cells with psoralen and isopsoralen, respectively. Similarly, the expression of proteins can be promoted. Both psoralen and isopsoralen were located in the top of the central pocket of the Keap1 Kelch domain, suggesting that they were natural ligands of Keap1. In conclusion, both psoralen and isopsoralen activate Nrf2 through interaction with Keap1, thereby serving as natural antioxidants., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2025 The Author(s). Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is a hyphenated analytical technique that combines the separating power of liquid chromatography with mass analysis capabilities. The aim of present study to identify and characterize different chemical compounds present in different (roots, leaves, stems and flowers fractions) parts of Prangos platychlaena Boiss. (family: Apiaceae) by LC-MS/MS method. The LC-MS/MS analysis for identification and characterization of phytocompounds in different extracts were performed, and that leads identification of five new compounds first time in P. platychlaena plant and they were psoralen, bergapten, 5,8-dimethoxy psoralen, isoimperatorin and pthalic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester. The identification and characterization of phytocompounds were performed on the basis on mass spectroscopy data and literature reports. The LC-MS/MS method was found simple and fast for identification and characterization of phytocompounds in different extracts of P. platychlaena.

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Psoralen is a phytoconstituent found in the plant. Psoralea corylifolia is also known as Bawchi/Bakuchi in India. A stability indicating HPTLC method for estimation of psoralen has been developed. The effects of accelerated conditions on the psoralen content from marketed formulation (seed powder) were studied. The powder of dried seeds and standard psoralen were applied to silica gel 60 F254 aluminium-supported precoated TLC plates using optimised mobile phase containing toluene: ethyl acetate 9: 1 (v/v). Densitometric scanning was conducted at λmax= 246 nm. A compact peak for psoralen (Rf= 0.62±0.03) was observed with linearity ranging from 40 ng-200 ng/band with good correlation coefficient of r²= 0.991. The standard marker was subjected to degradation studies as per ICH Q1A (R2) guidelines and found susceptible to degradation in all conditions like hydrolysis, photolytic, oxidation and thermal. The marketed formulation (seed powder) was exposed to accelerated conditions for 3 months. The method was found to be reproducible, selective and reliable for estimation of stability of standard psoralen in marketed formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sample and effective approach for quantitative determination of the prohibited component named psoralen in cosmetics was proposed on the basis of emission-excitation fluorescence matrix (EEFM) coupled with N-PLS method. The standard samples were divided into the calibration set and prediction set; the N-PLS model was established on the calibration set and the predictive ability of the established model was validated by prediction set. In this regard, some statistical parameters and figures of merit, such as correlation coefficient of calibration ( R c 2 ) and prediction ( R p 2 ), root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) and prediction (RMSEP), and recovery were investigated to evaluate the performance of proposed method. The N-PLS model developed on the EEFM showed R c 2 and R p 2 of 0.9951 and 0.9982, respectively, and showed RMSEC and RMSEP of 1.5636 and 2.7618, respectively, demonstrating the established model has good linearity and predictive ability. Moreover, the recovery rates in the range of 105.40–123.61% demonstrated that the proposed strategy has good accuracy. Finally, the established model applied to the real cosmetic samples showed that the psoralen was not detected, and the obtained results were in accordance with those of the validated gas chromatography method. The satisfactory results indicated that EEFM combined with the N-PLS method can be employed as a reliable tool for quality monitoring of cosmetic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inactivated whole-cell vaccines present a full repertoire of antigens to the immune system. Formalin treatment, a standard method for microbial inactivation, can modify or destroy protein antigenic epitopes. We tested the hypothesis that photochemical inactivation with psoralen and UVA light (PUVA), which targets nucleic acid, would improve the immunogenicity of an Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) vaccine relative to a formalin-inactivated counterpart. Exposure of ETEC H10407 to PUVA using the psoralen drug 4′-Aminomethyltrioxsalen hydrochloride (AMT) yielded replication-incompetent bacteria that retained their metabolic activity. CFA/I-mediated mannose-resistant hemagglutination (MRHA) was equivalent for PUVA-inactivated and live ETEC, but was severely reduced for formalin–ETEC, indicating that PUVA preserved fimbrial protein functional integrity. The immunogenicity of PUVA–ETEC and formalin–ETEC was compared in mice ± double mutant heat-labile enterotoxin (dmLT) adjuvant. Two weeks after an intramuscular prime/boost, serum anti-ETEC IgG titers were similar for the two vaccines and were increased by dmLT. However, the IgG responses raised against several conserved ETEC proteins were greater after vaccination with PUVA–ETEC. In addition, PUVA–ETEC generated IgG specific for heat-labile toxin (LT) in the absence of dmLT, which was not a property of formalin–ETEC. These data are consistent with PUVA preserving ETEC protein antigens in their native-like form and justify the further testing of PUVA as a vaccine platform for ETEC using murine challenge models.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant subtype of breast cancer (BC) with a poor prognosis. Currently, chemotherapy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy continue to have limited efficacy in TNBC. With the deepening of research, nano targeted therapy shows a good application prospect in TNBC. Psoralen (PSO), an active component of Psoralea corylifolia, has significant advantages in inhibiting the growth of TNBC, but its poor solubility hampers its clinical practice. In this study, injectable psoralen polymer lipid nanoparticles (PSO-PLNs) were developed to deliver the hydrophobic drug to the target site and improve bioavailability. These nanoparticles were fully characterized in terms of morphology, particle size, surface zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, drug loading, stability, and in vitro release profile. Besides, structural characteristics were determined by ultraviolet (UV) and infrared spectroscopy. Finally, in vivo pharmacokinetic studies of PSO-PLNs were performed in rats. The characteristic absorption of PSO and PSO-PLNs appeared in UV, indicating that PSO-PLNs had encapsulated PSO; there was no obvious characteristic absorption of PSO in infrared spectra, indicating that PSO was mostly encapsulated in the nano-shell. PSO-PLNs could maintain stable physicochemical properties for 1.5 months when stored at 4 °C. PSO-PLNs selectively released PSO at pH 6.5, and the sustained and controlled release effect was significantly different from that of PSO (p < 0.01). Pharmacokinetic studies in vivo demonstrated that PSO-PLNs could improve PSO bioavailability by increasing blood drug concentration and plasma protein binding rate. In summary, injectable PSO-PLNs could be considered as promising delivery system for advanced cancer therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]