[Antioxidant inhibition of hemolysis induced by photooxidized psoralen]

Antioxidants butylated hydroxytoluene++ (ionol) and 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethyl-chromanol-6-(alpha-T-0) were shown to inhibit hemolysis induced by the ethanolic solution of photooxidized psoralen (POP). This inhibition appeared to be the same whether antioxidants were present during irradiation or were added immediately after photooxidation. Therefore antioxidants do not influence POP formation, but inhibit the interaction of POP degradation products in water with biomolecules. Possibility of POP participation in phototoxic effects of furocoumarins is discussed.