[Phenothiazine drugs as photosensitizers and photoprotectors]

The photosensitizing properties of eight N-alkylated phenothiazine neuroleptic drugs were studied. The experiments were carried out in a model system based on photooxidative chemiluminescence of Gly-Trp peptide in aqueous solution. Under irradiation with light longer than 280 nm, all the studied phenothiazine derivatives decrease the chemiluminescence intensity at low concentrations and enhance it at high concentrations. Phenothiazine derivatives is likely to be due to superoxide and/or Gly-Trp free peroxide radicals. Photosensitization begins to dominate over protection at concentrations which are different for various phenothiazine derivatives compounds and lie in the range 10(-6)-10(-5) M. The photosensitizing efficiency decreases in the order: Thioproperazine, Trifluoperazine Hydrochloride, Alimezine, Thioridazine Hydrochloride, Levomepromazine Hydrochloride, Promethazine Hydrochloride, Periciazine, Chlorpromazine Hydrochloride. It was shown that photooxidation of Gly-Trp sensitized by phenothiazine derivatives occurs via singlet oxygen formation.