Hypericum perforatum effects

Hudson, Christopher G., Socioeconomic Status and Mental Illness Tests of the Social Causation and Selection Hypotheses , American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 75, no. 1 (2005) 3-18 The Humble Humbug , The Lancet 2 (1954) 321 Hunter, Aimee M., Andrew F. Leuchter, Melinda L. Morgan and Ian A. Cook, Changes in Brain Function (Quantitative EEG Cordance) During Placebo Lead-in and Treatment Outcomes in Clinical Trials for Major Depression , American Journal of Psychiatry 163, no. 8 (2006) 1426-32 Hyland, Michael E., Do Person Variables Exist in Different Ways , American Psychologist 40 (1985) 1003-10 Hypericum Depression Trial Study Group, Effect of Hypericum Perforatum (St John s Wort) in Major Depressive Disorder A Randomized Controlled Trial , Journal of the American Medical Association 287 (2002) 1807-14... 

Butterweck V, Wall A, Lieflander-Wulf U, Winterhoff H, Nahrstedt A. (1997). Effects of the total extract and fractions of Hypericum perforatum in animal assays for antidepressant activity. Pharmacopsychiatry. 30(suppl. 2) 117-24. 

Dimpfel W, Schober F, Mannel M. (1998). Effects of a methanolic extract and a hyperforin-enriched C02 extract of St. John s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) on intracerebral field potentials in the freely moving rat (Tele-Stereo-EEG). Pharmacopsychiatry. 31(suppl 1) 30-5. 

Ernst E, Rand JI, Barnes J, Stevinson C. (1998). Adverse effects profile of the herbal antidepressant St. John s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.). EurJ Clin Pharmacol. 54(8) 589-94. 

Catania MA, Firenzuoli F, Crupi A, Mannucd C, Caputi AP, Calapai G (2003) Hypericum perforatum attenuates nicotine withdrawal signs in mice. Psychopharmacology 169 186-189 Cheeta S, Irvine EE, Kenny PJ, File SE (2001) The dorsal raphd nucleus is a crucial structure mediating nicotine s anxiolytic effects and the development of tolerance and withdrawal responses. Psychopharmacology 155 78-85... 

Flavonoids in the diet have been widely promoted as important antioxidant contributors. Their neuroprotective properties, because of this effect, have been demonstrated by several workers. However, they have also been demonstrated to have MAOI activity and this has been proposed as part of the explanation of the use of the common herb, St Johns Wort, Hypericum perforatum L., as an antidepressant. This dual role has now been proposed for a variety of flavonoids, such as kaempferol (22) from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba L., a widely used herbal product which has been suggested as a preventative agent against neurodegeneration. Quercetin (23), similarly, has also shown to inhibit MAO-B " and reverse the effects of induced catalepsy, which mimics the bradykinesia associated with PD. Tangeretin (24) also inhibits MAO-B and crosses the blood brain barrier in a rat model. 

Table 9. The effect of St John s wort Hypericum perforatum) on some conventional drugs ...

Markowitz, J.S., DeVane, C.L., Boulton, D.W, Carson, S.W, Nahas, Z., and Risch, S.C. (2000) Effect of St. John s wort (Hypericum perforatum) on cytochrome P-450 2D6 and 3A4 activity in healthy volunteers. Life Sci 66 PL133-PL139. 

Yu, P.H. (2000) Effect of Hypericum perforatum extract on serotonin turnover in the mouse brain. Pharmacopsychiatry 33 60-65. 

The natural antidepressant hypericum perforatum is reported to have only few effects on cognitive and psychomotor performance in healthy volunteers after single doses of 900 and 1800mg only one test (DSST) within a large battery was significantly affected (Timoshanko et al., 2001). The effects of single doses of lithium on healthy volunteers are small. This also holds true when the substance is given over a period of several weeks. 

Hypericum Depression Trial Study Group Effect of Hypericum perforatum (St John s wort) in major depresssive disorder. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 287, 1807-1814. 2002. 

Sharpley, A.L., McGavm, C.L., Whale, R., et al. Antidepressant-like effect of hypericum perforatum (St John s wort) on the sleep polygram. Psvchophannacologv 139, 286-287, 1998. 

Wang Z, Gorski JC, Hamman MA, Huang SM, Lesko LJ, Hall SD. The effects of St. John s wort (Hypericum perforatum) on human cytochrome P450 activity. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2001 70 317-326. 

Hebert MF, Park JM, Chen YL, Akhtar S, Larson AM. Effects of St. John s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) on tacrolimus pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers. J Clin Pharmacol 2004 44(l) 89-94. 

Hypericum perforatum (Clusiaceae), commonly known as SJW, is used in many countries for the treatment of mild-to-moderate forms of depression. Several clinical studies provide evidence that SJW is as effective as conventional synthetic antidepressants (46-51). From a phytochemical point of view, H. perforatum belongs to one of the best-investigated medicinal plants. A series of bioactive compounds have been detected in the crude material, namely phenylpropanes, flavonol derivatives, biflavones, proanthocyani-dins, xanthones, phloroglucinols, some amino acids, naphthodianthrones, and essential oil constituents (Fig. 3) (52-54). 

Butterweck V, Korte B, Winterhoff H. Pharmacological and endocrine effects of Hypericum perforatum and hypericin after repeated treatment. Pharmacos-pychiatry 2001 34 S2-S7. 

Calapai G, Crupi A, Firenzuoli F, et al. Effects of Hypericum perforatum on levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine, noradrenaline and dopamine in the cortex, diencephalon and brainstem of the rat. J Pharm Pharmacol 1999 51 723-728. 

Hypericum perforatum L. China Quercetin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin.33-53 Antipyretic, antibacterial, detoxicant effect, treat acute icteric hepatitis, lower blood pressure, dysmenorrhea, gonorrhea, skin ailments. 

Stevia Stevia rebaudiana) Uses Natural sweetener, hypoglycemic and hypotensive properties Actions Multiple chemical components sweetness d/t glycoside, stevioside hypotensive effect may be d/t diuretic action or vasodilation action Available forms Liq extract, powder, caps Notes/SE HA, dizziness, bloating Interactions T Hypotensive effects W/ antihypertensives esp CCB, diuretics EMS Monitor BP does not encourage dental caries may -1-glucose St. John s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) Uses Mild-mod depression, anxiety, anti-inflammatory, immune stimulant/anti-HIV/antiviral, gastritis, insomnia, vitiligo Action MAOI in vitro, not in vivo bacteriostatic bactericidal, T capillary blood flow, uterotonic activity in animals Efficacy Variable benefit w/ mild-mod depression in several trials, but not always seen in clinical practice Available forms Teas, tabs, caps, tine, oil ext for topical use Dose 2-4 g of herb or 0.2-1 mg of total hypericin (standardized extract) daily Notes/SE Photosensitivity (use sunscreen) rash, dizziness, dry mouth, GI distress Interactions Enhance MAOI activity, EtOH, narcotics, sympathomimetics EMS T Risk of photosensitivity Rxns t effects of opioids and sympathomimetics... 

Because suicide is one of the leading causes of death in elderly people and in other populations, rapid and effective treatment of depression is warranted. Current therapies include the use of electroconvulsive (shock) therapy, psychiatric intervention, and antidepressant drugs such as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Recently, in the U.S., the use of St. John s wort (Hypericum perforatum) has become more prevalent, especially in the treatment of depression. 

The herb St. John s wort (Hypericum perforatum) has a number of constituent parts, including hyperforin, which is currently being studied as the responsible constituent for the antidepressant action. The herb contains at least ten compounds that can have an unpredictable effect on the consumer. 

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