The Role of Oxygen in the Antiviral Activity of Hypericin and Hypocrellin |
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| Authors: | Jaehun Park Doug S English Yvonne Wannemuehler Susan Carpenter Jacob W Petrich |
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| Institution: | Departments of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA;Departments of Microbiology, Immunology, and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA |
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| Abstract: | The light-induced antiviral activity of hypericin and hypocrellin in the presence and absence of oxygen was examined under experimental conditions where the effect of oxygen depletion could be quantified. There was a significant reduction of light-induced antiviral activity of hypericin and hypocrellin under hypoxic conditions. Interestingly, antiviral activity of hypocrellin was not observed at low oxygen levels at which hypericin retained measurable virucidal activity. This suggests that additional pathways, such as the generation of protons from excited states of hypericin, may enhance the biological activity of activated oxygen species. |
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