Protoporphyrin Disodium is the disodium salt of Protoporphyrin (syn: Protoporphyrin IX, PPIX), a heterocyclic organic compound and the final intermediate in heme biosynthesis. Present in all living cells, it serves as a substrate for ferrochelatase (FECH), the final enzyme in heme production. It is a guanylate cyclase (GC) activator. It is used as a dye component in fluorescence spectroscopic characterization. The compound is used as sensitizer in photodynamic therapy and sonodynamic therapy. It can be used for photo-bleaching properties. The use of Protoporphyrin in cancer is due to its photodynamic effects.
Protoporphyrin Disodium is soluble in methanol or DMSO but practically insoluble in water.