Dark and Photohemolysis of Erythrocytes by Furocoumarins

Abstract It has been shown that various furocoumarins are able to cause dark hemolysis in red blood cells (RBC). However, this effect is evident only at relatively high furocoumarin concentrations (4.6 x 10-4 M) - much higher than those used in photosensitization experiments or photochemotherapeutic treatments. Among the various furocoumarins examined in this study, only psoralen (Ps) and 3-carbethoxypsoralen (3-CPs) showed strong photohemolytic effects, while the other compounds revealed little or no activity. This fact indicates that Ps and 3-CPs are able to induce selective damage to the cell membrane of RBC. By pre-irradiating furocoumarin in ethanol or isotonic saline solutions and adding the irradiated solutions to a RBC suspension, hemolysis was observed in various compounds. The products of photolysis which form during pre-irradiation may be responsible, in terms of hemolysis, for toxic effects on RBC.