Resumen:
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Heterophyllaea pustulata (Rubiaceae), a South American genus, is a phototoxic shrub that
grows in the Andean mountain range of the northwest of Argentina, popularly known as
‘‘cegadera’’. Animals that ingest the aerial parts of this plant suffer a typical primary
photosensitization reaction, clinically revealed by dermatitis and blindness in severe
cases. Anthraquinone derivatives (AQs), the main metabolites of this species, are
characterized as Type I and/or Type II photosensitizers according to their physicochemical
properties. The natural toxicity conditions were reproduced in vivo assays by oral
administration of soranjidiol and rubiadin, the main components of the aerial parts. By