Novel therapeutic and diagnostic applications of hypocrellins and hypericins

Hypocrellins and hypericins, structurally related plant pigments isolated from Hypocrella bambuase and Hypericum respectively, are known photodynamic agents. This review summarizes certain significant advances in the photophysics, photochemistry and photobiology of these pigments in the last 2 years and discusses their prospects as novel therapeutic and diagnostic agents in the future. Recently, certain unique properties of hypocrellins and hypericins have been explored for a variety of therapeutic and diagnostic applications. In particular, substantial progress has been made in both anticancer and antiviral applications (especially anti-human immunodeficiency virus). The promising anticancer and antiviral results obtained both in vitro and in vivo have led to intensive investigation into their photo-physical and photochemical processes, especially kinetic studies of their intramolecular proton transfer. These compounds offer the potential for a highly sensitive fluorescent redox sensor for investigation of a variety of cellular events. The biomedical advances of hypocrellins and hypericins have been further promoted by significant progress in their chemical synthesis and the recent commercialization of hypocrellins A and B and hypericin.