Hyperforin antibacterial activity

Schempp CM, Pelz K, Wittmer A, Schopf E, Simon JC. Antibacterial activity of hyperforin from St. John s wort, against multiresistant Staphylococcus aureus and gram-positive bacteria. Lancet 1999 353 2129. 

Another common plant that appears to have some activity against MRSA is Hypericum perforatum L., commonly known as St. John s wort. In traditional folk medicine, oily extracts of St. John s wort are used for topical treatment of wounds, bums and myalgia [39]. The lipophilic phloroglucin-derivative hyperforin. Fig. 3, has antibacterial effects and has been shown to inhibit the growth of MRSA at a concentration of 1 (ig/ml [39]. Thus, investigating known plants based on their historical medical (ethnomedical) use is a potentially useful means of discovering new alternative antimicrobial agents. 

St. John s wort has been used topically for wound healing for hundreds of years. Antibacterial properties have been reported as early as 1959, with hyperforin found to be the active component. Using multiple concentrations, it was discovered that no hyperforin dilutions had antimicrobial effects on Gram-negative bacteria or Candida albicans. There was, however, growth inhibition for all of the Gram-positive bacteria tested, some with the lowest dilution concentration of 0.1 pg/mL. Hyperforin was also shown to be effective at inhibiting methacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (25). 

The pharmacological activities of the various constituents of St.John s wort have been studied extensively. Hyperforin appears to be the major bioactive constituent and it acts in several ways serving as a neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitor with a broad selectivity, as a ligand for the pregnane X receptor, and as an antibacterial and antitumor agent. It also has a rapid effect on amyloid precursor protein processing, indicating a possible role in the prevention of Hypericin and the flavonoid constituents may have... 

Hyperforin is antibacterial against staphylococci (normal and MRSA) and streptococci. A butanol fraction was also active against Helicobacter pylori. ... 

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