6-Methylangelicins: new monofunctional photochemotherapeutic agents for psoriasis.

The monofunctional furocoumarins, the 6-methylangelicins, were tested for their antiproliferative activity with various animal models and for genotoxicity in micro-organisms and in mammalian cells. The most active compound was 6,4,4'-trimethylangelicin, which showed a high antiproliferative effect and reduced genotoxicity in comparison with 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP). Some of these compounds were also tested clinically by topical application on 17 patients with psoriasis. They appeared to be more active than 8-MOP in clearing psoriasis without inducing skin phototoxicity. The methylangelicins also caused skin pigmentation.