St. John's wort: role of active compounds for depression

St. John's wort, a look at the role of active compounds for its mechanism of action and efficacy. Concludes that several of the compounds in the herb contribute to its effect in treating depression

Wien Med Wochenschr. 2007 Jul;157(13-14):356-361.

St. John's wort: Role of active compounds for its mechanism of action and efficacy.

Butterweck V, Schmidt M.

Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA, butterwk@cop.ufl.edu.

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L., SJW) contains numerous compounds with documented biological activity. Constituents that have stimulated the most interest include the naphthodianthrones hypericin and pseudohypericin, a broad range of flavonoids, and the phloroglucinols hyperforin and adhyperforin. According to the actual state of scientific knowledge the total extract has to be considered as the active substance. Although there are some open questions, the bulk of data suggests that several groups of active compounds are contributing to the antidepressant efficacy of the plant extract.

PMID: 17704987 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]