Bergamottin, which accounts for about two-thirds of the absorption of UVA and UVB light by bergamot oil, is shown to be fairly unstable on UV irradiation of solutions of bergamot oil (in ethanol-water, 80:20 (w/w)). Bergamottin photodegradation is partly inhibited by molecular oxygen and also by a cinnamate sunscreen acting as a triplet excited state quencher. On UV irradiation of bergamot oil, type II photodynamic properties, i.e. singlet oxygen production, are observed, which can be mainly attributed to the excitation of bergamottin by light. Therefore bergamottin can be considered as a potential photosensitizer in the photobiological activity of bergamot oil.