The word "haematoporphyrin" is used to describe a group of pigments found in red blood cells. The first part of the word, "haemato," refers to blood, while the second part "porphyrin" refers to a ring-shaped molecule found in the pigment. In terms of pronunciation, "haematoporphyrin" is pronounced as "hee-muh-toh-pawr-fuh-rin" using IPA phonetic transcription. The "ae" in "haemato" is pronounced as a long "e" sound, while the "ph" in "porphyrin" is pronounced as an "f" sound.
Haematoporphyrin is a noun that refers to a dark red or purple pigment compound found in the blood. It is a derivative of porphyrin and is primarily associated with the heme portion of hemoglobin, the red pigment that carries oxygen in red blood cells. Haematoporphyrin is composed of several interconnected carbon rings and contains iron in the center of the molecule.
This compound has a strong affinity for light absorption in the red and green regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, making it visible as the characteristic red color in blood. Due to its photodynamic properties, haematoporphyrin is widely used in medicine, particularly in the field of photodynamic therapy (PDT).
In PDT, haematoporphyrin is administered to a patient and then activated using specific wavelengths of light. When exposed to light, the compound undergoes a chemical reaction that generates reactive oxygen species, which can damage nearby cells and tissues. This targeted phototoxicity allows haematoporphyrin-based PDT to be used in the treatment of various medical conditions, including cancerous tumors and specific dermatological disorders.
While naturally occurring haematoporphyrin is relatively non-toxic, artificially synthesized versions of the compound, like haematoporphyrin derivative (HPD), offer improved properties for therapeutic use. These derivatives typically have enhanced solubility and light absorption characteristics, making them more suitable for medical applications.
The word "Haematoporphyrin" has its etymology rooted in Ancient Greek.
"Haemato-" comes from the Greek word "haima" (αἷμα), meaning "blood". It is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root word "h₁eyh₁-" which also means "blood".
"Porphyrin" comes from the Greek word "porphura" (πορϕυρά), which means "purple" or "purple-red". It is derived from the Greek word "porphura" (πορφύρα), which refers to a purple dye made from the mucus of the murex shellfish.
Thus, "Haematoporphyrin" reflects the compound's association with blood ("haemato-") and its purple-red color ("porphyrin").