Abstract
Dorstenin, 5-[3-(4,5-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-4-oxo-2-furanyl)-butoxy]-7H -furo[3, 2-g ] [1 ] benzopyran-7-one, is a psoralen analog recently isolated from Dorstenia species (Moraceae). In order to characterize its biological activity, its photosensitizing and mutational properties were measured in wild-type E. coli and S. cerevisiae and also in strains carrying mutations which affect DNA repair. Compared to the high activities of psoralen and bergapten, dorstenin showed lower genotoxic effect.
Key words
Dorstenia - Moraceae - photosensitization - mutation - dorstenin -
Escherichia coli
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae
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Dr. Alvaro C. Leitão
Instituto de Biofisica Carlos Chagas Filho
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
CCS-Bloco G
2149-900, Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
Email: acleitao@biof.ufrj.br
Fax: +55-21-2280-8193