Phototoxicity in human lens epithelial cells promoted by St. John's Wort.
St. John's Wort (SJW), an over-the-counter antidepressant, contains hypericin, which absorbs light in the UV and visible ranges and is phototoxic to skin. To determine if it also could be phototoxic to the eye, we exposed human lens epithelial cells to 0.1-10 microM hypericin and irradiated them with 4 J/cm2 UV-A or 0.9 J/cm2 visible light. Neither hypericin exposure alone nor light exposure alone reduced cell viability. In contrast, cells exposed to hypericin in combination with UV-A or visible light underwent necrosis and apoptosis. The ocular antioxidants lutein and N-acetyl cysteine did not prevent damage. Thus, ingested SJW is potentially phototoxic to the eye and could contribute to early cataractogenesis. Precautions should be taken to protect the eye from intense sunlight while taking SJW.
He
Yu-Ying
YY
Laboratory of Chemistry and Pharmacology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 10023, USA.
Chignell
Colin F
CF
Miller
David S
DS
Andley
Usha P
UP
Roberts
Joan E
JE
D000873:Anthracenes; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D002460:Cell Line; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D020902:Hypericum / Q000633:toxicity*; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010569:Perylene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000633:toxicity*
D000873:Anthracenes; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D010569:Perylene; C004965:hypericin