Xanthotoxol (XT)

Xanthotoxol is a furanocoumarin. It is one of the major active ingredients in Cnidium monnieri. Xanthotoxol O-methyltransferase (8-hydroxyfuranocoumarin 8-O-methyltransferase) is an enzyme that uses S-adenosyl methionine and xanthotoxol to produce S-adenosylhomocysteine and O-methylxanthotoxol (xanthotoxin or methoxsalen).

Xanthotoxol, one of the major active ingredients in Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson, exerts protective effects in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by alleviating brain edema, inhibiting the neutrophil infiltration, and decreasing the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin. Xanthotoxol treatment significantly attenuated BBB disruption, reduced the IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8 and NO level, and attenuated the iNOS activity compared with vehicle-treated animals.