Development of a Convenient and Quantitative Method for Evaluating Photosensitizing Activity Using Thiazolyl Blue Formazan Dye
Smee Kang,
Yeong Ji Oh,
Mi-Ri Kim,
Yu Na Jung,
Eiseul Song,
Hyowon Lee,
Jungil Hong
Affiliations
Smee Kang
Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Science and Convergence Technology, Seoul Women’s University, 621, Hwarangro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01797, Republic of Korea
Yeong Ji Oh
Major in Food Science & Biotechnology, Institute of Bio Engineering, College of Future Convergence, Eulji University, Seongnam 13135, Republic of Korea
Mi-Ri Kim
Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Science and Convergence Technology, Seoul Women’s University, 621, Hwarangro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01797, Republic of Korea
Yu Na Jung
Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Science and Convergence Technology, Seoul Women’s University, 621, Hwarangro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01797, Republic of Korea
Eiseul Song
Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Science and Convergence Technology, Seoul Women’s University, 621, Hwarangro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01797, Republic of Korea
Hyowon Lee
Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Science and Convergence Technology, Seoul Women’s University, 621, Hwarangro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01797, Republic of Korea
Jungil Hong
Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Science and Convergence Technology, Seoul Women’s University, 621, Hwarangro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01797, Republic of Korea
Photosensitizers cause oxidative damages in various biological systems under light. In this study, the method for analyzing photosensitizing activity of various dietary and medicinal sources was developed using 1-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-3,5-diphenylformazan (thiazolyl blue formazan; MTT-F) as a probe. Significant and quantitative decolorization of MTT-F was observed in the presence of photosensitizers used in this study under light but not under dark conditions. The decolorization of MTT-F occurred irradiation time-, light intensity-, and photosensitizer concentration-dependently. The decolorized MTT-F was reversibly reduced by living cells; the LC-MS/MS results indicated the formation of oxidized products with −1 m/z of base peak from MTT-F, suggesting that MTT-F decolorized by photosensitizers was its corresponding tetrazolium. The present results indicate that MTT-F is a reliable probe for the quantitative analysis of photosensitizing activities, and the MTT-F-based method can be an useful tool for screening and evaluating photosensitizing properties of various compounds used in many industrial purposes.
