Definition: A group of compounds containing the porphin structure, four pyrrole rings connected by methine bridges in a cyclic configuration to which a variety of side chains are attached. The nature of the side chain is indicated by a prefix, as uroporphyrin, hematoporphyrin, etc. The porphyrins, in combination with iron, form the heme component in biologically significant compounds such as hemoglobin and myoglobin.
verteporfin [ 18-ethenyl-4,4a-dihydro-3,4-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-4a,8,14,19-tetramethyl-23H,25H-benzo(b)porphine-9,13-dipropanoic acid monomethyl ester,BPD verteporfin,BPD-MA,Novartis Ophthalmics brand of verteporfin,Novartis brand of verteporfin,QLT brand of verteporfin,Visudyne,benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid ring A,verteporphin ] C41H42N4O8, MW 718.794; used in PHOTOCHEMOTHERAPY to treat wet type MACULAR DEGENERATION
