Heracleum and psoralens?

[Una Smith]

Does anyone know if the photoreactive compound in Heracleum
mantegazzianum is a psoralen?

(FYI, psoralens are a group of molecules that preferentially
cross-link DNA under high ultraviolet light levels.  Thus they
are believed to be extremely powerful carcinogens, causing
chromosome breakage in dividing cells.  In fact, they are used
experimentally to induce cancers in laboratory animals.)

        Una Smith                               smith-una at yale.edu

Department of Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT  06520-8104  USA