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psoralen

Structure via PubChem · Public domain (PubChem)

EntityQ417788· pop 27· linked from 122 articles

Also known as 6,7-furanocoumarin, furocoumarin, 6-hydroxy-5-benzofuranacrylic acid delta-lactone, furo[4',5':6,7]coumarin, furo[2',3':7,6]coumarin, 3-(6-hydroxy-5-benzofuranyl)-2-propenoic acid delta-lactone, 7H-furo[3,2-g][1]benzopyran-7-one

Psoralen (also called psoralene) is the parent compound in a family of naturally occurring organic compounds known as the linear furanocoumarins. It is structurally related to coumarin by the addition of a fused furan ring, and may be considered as a derivative of umbelliferone. Psoralen occurs naturally in the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia, as well as in the common fig, celery, parsley, West Indian satinwood, and in all citrus fruits. It is widely used in PUVA (psoralen + UVA) treatment for psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma; these applications are typically through th

Chemical data

Formula
C11H6O3
Molecular weight
186.16 g/mol
IUPAC name
furo[3,2-g]chromen-7-one
SMILES
C1=CC(=O)OC2=CC3=C(C=CO3)C=C21
InChIKey
ZCCUUQDIBDJBTK-UHFFFAOYSA-N
XLogP
2.3
Polar surface area
39.4 Ų
H-bond donors
0
H-bond acceptors
3
Formal charge
0

via PubChem

Research

8,914 papers

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~11 min read

Encyclopedic overview

11 sections
Contents
  • Uses
  • Chemistry
  • Structure
  • Synthesis
  • Biosynthesis
  • Plant sources
  • Repair of psoralen DNA adducts
  • Analysis of nucleic acids structures
  • References
  • Further reading
  • External links

Psoralen (also called psoralene) is the parent compound in a family of naturally occurring organic compounds known as the linear furanocoumarins. It is structurally related to coumarin by the addition of a fused furan ring, and may be considered as a derivative of umbelliferone. Psoralen occurs naturally in the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia, as well as in the common fig, celery, parsley, West Indian satinwood, and in all citrus fruits. It is widely used in PUVA (psoralen + UVA) treatment for psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma; these applications are typically through the use of medications such as Methoxsalen. Many furanocoumarins are extremely toxic to fish, and some are deposited in streams in Indonesia to catch fish.

==Uses== Psoralen is a mutagen, and is used for this purpose in molecular biology research. Psoralen intercalates into DNA and on exposure to ultraviolet (UVA) radiation can form monoadducts and covalent interstrand cross-links (ICL) with thymines, preferentially at 5'-TpA sites in the genome, inducing apoptosis. Psoralen plus UVA (PUVA) therapy can be used to treat hyperproliferative skin disorders like psoriasis and certain kinds of skin cancer. Unfortunately, PUVA treatment itself leads to a higher risk of skin cancer.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “psoralen” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

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