Review on Photophysical, Photochemical and Photobiological properties of anthraquinones isolated from a phototoxic vegetal species: Heterophyllaea pustulata

L.R. COMINI; S.C. NÚÑEZ MONTOYA; J.L. CABRERA; G.A. ARGÜELLO

Trends in photochemistry and Photobiology

Open Journal

Año: 2010 vol. 12 p. 17 - 36

0972-4532

Studies undertaken on isolated photosensitizing agents from Heterophyllaea pustulata, a phototoxic plant, which natural habitat is the North-western part of Argentina, are presented here. The carried out work involved several steps that were initiated with the chemical-structural study of their most important secondary metabolites. As a result, three flavonoids, one iridoid glycoside (asperuloside) and ten aglycone anthraquinones were identified. Through the study of the photophysical, photochemical and photobiological properties of the anthraquinone derivatives, we concluded that they show good photosensitizing (type I and type II) characteristics. The performed toxicological analysis in vivo showed a direct cause-effect relation between these metabolites and the reported phototoxicity for H. Pustulata. Finally, a few words about the potential application of these photosensitizing compounds as antibacterial agents will be given.