Natural Product Photoantimicrobials

In the past 20 years, photosensitisers have found a niche in the photodynamic treatment of accessible tumours (PDT). Most of the therapeutics involved in this approach are porphyrin-based natural products or derivatives. However, there is a range of other photodynamic agents derived from natural sources - either via direct extraction/purification, or via semisynthesis - currently being trialled both for anticancer PDT and the related antimicrobial application, covering areas such as wound disinfection and blood product sterilisation. The following review covers the advances made in the potential photoantimicrobial application of natural product photosensitisers and their derivatives.