Methoxsalen

Methoxsalen is a naturally occurring furocoumarin compound found in several species of plants, including psoralea corylifolia. It is a photo- active substance that forms dna adducts in the presence of ultraviolet an irradiation. Methoxsalen is a photoactivated radical generator & psoralen. The mechanism of action of methoxsalen is photoabsorption. The physiologic effect of methoxsalen is by means of photosensitizing activity. The chemical classification of methoxsalen is psoralens.
Methoxsalen is a naturally occurring substance isolated from the seeds of plant ammi majus with photoactivating properties. As member of the family of compounds known as psoralens or furocoumarins, methox salen's exact mechanism of action is unknown; upon photo-activation, methoxsalen has been observed to bind covalently to & crosslink dna.