Possible involvement of oxidation of lipids in inducing griseofulvin photosensitivity.

Griseofulvin-sensitized photo-oxidation of lipids was examined in vitro. Iodometric determination and thiobarbituric acid assay proved peroxidation of squalene, cholesterol and red blood cell membrane lipids by UVA irradiation in the presence of griseofulvin. Simultaneous progression of Type I (non-singlet oxygen) and Type II (singlet oxygen) processes is likely because the oxidation products of cholesterol through both processes were identified by thin layer chromatography. These results suggest that lipids, especially membrane lipids, are one of the possible targets for induction of griseofulvin photosensitivity.