On the Mechanism of Erythrocyte Hemolysis Induced by Photooxidized Psoralen (mini-review)
Contemporary concepts on a possible mechanism of erythrocyte hemolysis induced by photooxidized psoralen - the medicinal photosensitizing furocoumarin - are reviewed. A hypothesis on a mechanochemical mechanism of hemolysis is considered in view of recent data on photoinduced aggregation in photooxidized psoralen solutions. An appropriate chemical structure of photoproduct hemolysins and aggregating photoproducts is discussed.