Psoralen Enhances Direct Cardiac Reprogramming via Activating PPARa and Driving Mitochondrial Fission and Improves Cardiac Function After Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND: Direct cardiac reprogramming offers a promising strategy to regenerate cardiomyocytes for heart repair, but its efficiency and maturation remain limited. Psoralen, a natural compound isolated from Psoralea corylifolia L. , has been widely studied for its bioactive properties. This study aimed to determine whether psoralen enhances chemical cardiac reprogramming and improves functional maturation, and to evaluate its therapeutic potential in myocardial infarction.