Pheophorbide A is a photosensitizer used in in vivo photodynamic therapy (PDT).Phoophorbide A is a lymphatic vasoreactivator with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and hypoglycemic activities.Phoophorbide A is used in research on diabetes and cancer.

Pheophorbide A significantly inhibited the growth of Hep3B cells with an IC50 value of 1.5 μM. The intracellular ROS level was increased in the cells treated with Pa-PDT, and the cytotoxic effect could be reversed when ascorbic acid was applied[2].

In male immunocompetent C3H mice ( six-week-old, inoculated subcutaneously with AT-84 cells ), Pheophorbide A ( 10 mg / kg intravenous ( i.v. ) or a 30 mg / kg intraperitoneal ( i.p. ) injection ; after 24 h) significantly inhibited tumor growth up to 70 %[1]。