Hematoporphyrin

Hematoporphyrin (/hɪˈmætoʊpɔːrfɪrɪn/) is a compound derived from porphyrins which are a group of organic compounds, many of which play significant roles in living organisms. The term "hematoporphyrin" is derived from the Greek words "haima" meaning blood and "porphyrin" referring to the class of compounds.

Definition

Hematoporphyrin is a type of porphyrin that is often associated with the presence of iron. It is a key component in the formation of heme, a component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues.

Role in Medicine

In medicine, hematoporphyrin is used in photodynamic therapy for the treatment of certain types of cancer. When exposed to a specific wavelength of light, hematoporphyrin can produce a form of oxygen that kills nearby cells, making it useful in targeting and destroying cancer cells.

Related Terms

Porphyrin: A class of organic compounds, many of which play significant roles in living organisms.
Heme: An iron-containing compound of the porphyrin class which forms the nonprotein part of hemoglobin and some other biological molecules.
Hemoglobin: The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues.
Photodynamic therapy: A form of phototherapy using nontoxic light-sensitive compounds that are exposed selectively to light, whereupon they become toxic to targeted malignant and other diseased cells.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Hematoporphyrin
Wikipedia's article - Hematoporphyrin

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Hematoporphyrin