TROUBLESOME PHOTOCHEMISTRY

摘要

In daily life we are highly dependent on photochemistry and photochemical reactions.But there are also major drawbacks.Chignell and co-workers of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,North Carolina,evaluated the phototoxic reactions of goldenseal root extract (INCI: Hydrastis canadensis).This is widely used in dietary supplements,in eye drops to treat trachoma and in body and sun care products.The researchers demonstrated that its major alkaloid berberine causes,in combination with UVA radiation,DNA damage and apoptosis (cell death).