An Approach to the Treatment of Vitiligo by Khellin

Abstract

An anticipated effect of khellin, related to its chemical structure, in the photochemotherapy of amelanosis has been investigated. In a double-blind clinical study, khellin has been orally administered to 30 vitiligo patients for 4 months with subsequent exposure to natural sunlight. At the end of the trial period. 5 patients out of 30 (16.6%) repigmented 90–100%; 7 cases (23.3%) repigmented 50–60% of the vitiliginous areas treated; 11 (36.6%) repigmented 25% or less, and 7 subjects (23.3%) showed negative response. 30 control subjects failed to repigment at all. The achieved repigmentation was stable after drug cessation for a period of 1 year. These data add a previously unreported effect for the non-psoralen compound, khellin, in the therapy of vitiligo.

Photochemotherapy with Topical Khellin and Sunlight in Vitiligo

“…predominantly forming monoadducts, it shows less phototoxic and cancerogenetic risks. Orally adminis tered khellin has already been employed in vitiligo with results comparable with PUVA therapy [7][8][9][10][11]. Due to its low phototoxicity risk, khellin may be used topically, thus avoiding systemic side effects and hyperpigmentation of healthy skin.…”

Treatment of vitiligo with khellin liposomes, ultraviolet light and blister roof transplantation

“…Khellin has been used to treat vitiligo, 12,13 because it has phototherapeutic properties that are similar to those of the psoralens, but it has substantially lower phototoxic and mutagenic effects 14,15 . The current status on the position of khellin in the treatment of vitiligo was recently reported and it was concluded that the research into this area remains inconclusive and at times contradictory 11,16–20 . The selection of the vehicle in which khellin is incorporated is highly important for the adequate availability of khellin in the skin because of its very low solubility in water 19 .…”

Theoretical study of hydrolysis mechanism of khellin

“…Khellin and psoralens bind with DNA through cross-links to produce monoadducts. Thus khellin is used in photochemotherapy of dermatoses such as vitiligo and psoriasis [1][2][3][4][5]. It is known that hydrolysis of khellin gives very interesting derivatives namely aceto khellinone and khellinone (Scheme 1).…”