Phototoxicity of herbal plants and herbal products

J Environ Sci Health C Environ Carcinog Ecotoxicol Rev. 2013;31(3):213-55. doi: 10.1080/10590501.2013.824206.

Abstract

Plants are used by humans in daily life in many different ways, including as food, herbal medicines, and cosmetics. Unfortunately, many natural plants and their chemical constituents are photocytotoxic and photogenotoxic, and these phototoxic phytochemicals are widely present in many different plant families. To date, information concerning the phototoxicity and photogenotoxicity of many plants and their chemical constituents is limited. In this review, we discuss phototoxic plants and their major phototoxic constituents; routes of human exposure; phototoxicity of these plants and their constituents; general mechanisms of phototoxicity of plants and phototoxic components; and several representative phototoxic plants and their photoactive chemical constituents.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dermatitis, Phototoxic / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemistry
  • Photosensitizing Agents / toxicity*
  • Phytochemicals / chemistry
  • Phytochemicals / toxicity*
  • Plants / chemistry
  • Plants / toxicity*
  • Rats
  • Toxicity Tests

Substances

  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Phytochemicals