Application of hypericin in cancer therapy and diagnosis

Hypericin,used as a medicinal herb since ancient times,is a natural photosensitizer derived from the plant Hypericum perforantum.Hypericin would produce peroxides to induce apoptosis and inhibit the growth of oncocytes.Meanwhile,hypericin has a specific affinity with tumor pathology organization(underlying accumulation in pathology organization) which has been widely used in optical diagnosis.The present review gives a comprehensive summary of the anticancer effect based on photodynamic therapy,and photodynamic diagnosis of hypericin optical properties,with the purpose of making full use of the hypericin natural resources,and providing a basis for research and development of hypericin derivatives.