Hypericin Lights Up the Way for the Potential Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Cancer by Photodynamic Therapy

Title: Hypericin Lights Up the Way for the Potential Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Cancer by Photodynamic Therapy

Volume: 1 Issue: 3

Author(s): Malini Olivo, Hong-Yan Du and Boon-Huat Bay

Affiliation:

Keywords: Photosensitizer, photo-toxicity, hypericin, nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves the administration of a photosensitizer followed by light irradiation with a specific wavelength, giving rise to irreversible tissue destruction. Hypericin, a herbal extract derived from Hypericum perforatum or St. Johns Wort, has minimal toxicity but exhibits potent photo-damaging effects in the presence of light. Hypericin is known to generate a high yield of singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species that are associated with photo-oxidative cellular damage. The application of PDT with hypericin for the treatment of cancers such as recurrent mesothelioma and skin cancer has been validated in clinical trials. This mini-review focuses on the investigative studies of hypericin as a potential photodynamic agent in the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) in in vitro and in vivo models. NPC is an enigmatic tumor with a multifactorial etiology and a high incidence in the populations of Southern China.

Cite this article as:

Olivo Malini, Du Hong-Yan and Bay Boon-Huat, Hypericin Lights Up the Way for the Potential Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Cancer by Photodynamic Therapy, Current Clinical Pharmacology 2006; 1 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157488406778249370