psoralen

[ sawr-uh-luhn, sohr- ]

nounPharmacology.

a toxic substance, C11H6O3, found in certain plants, including parsnips, used to increase the response to ultraviolet light in the treatment of severe cases of acne and psoriasis.

Origin of psoralen

1930–35; <New Latin Psoral(ea) name of a genus of plants yielding the compound (<Greek psōraléa, neuter plural of psōraléos mangy, in reference to the glandular dots on the plant; see psoriasis) + -en, variant of -ene

Also called furocoumarin.

Words Nearby psoralen

PSNI
psoas
psocid
psora
psoralea
psoralen
psoriasis
psorosis
PSRO
P.SS.
psst

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