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St. John's Wort (Hypericum Perforatum L.): A Review
© 1996 Christopher Hobbs L.Ac., A.H.G. (Excerpted from HerbalGram)
(4 of 9)
Today, modern American herbalists still use St. John's wort for many of the same conditions for which it has
been recommended throughout the ages (32,33).
Chemistry
The genus Hypericum has an exceedingly complex and diverse chemical makeup. H.
perforatum has been most intensively studied, but there is data available on 66 other species (34). The
compounds that have been identified from H. perforatum can be divided into several classes, which
are summarized along with their pharmacological activity in Table 1.
Table 1. Summary of Constituents and Activity from Hypericum perforatum
Constituents & References
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Activity & References
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Dianthrone derivatives 35,36,37
hypreicin, pseudohypericin, frangula-emodin anthranol (and a mixture of the precursors, proto-hypericin & hypericodehydrodianthrone |
|
38,39
photodynamic, anti-depressive (MOA inhibitor), anti-viral |
Flavanols 40,41
(+)-catechin (+polymers: condensed tannis), leucocyanidin, (-)-epicatechin (total tannin content is 6.5-1.5%) |
|
42
astringent, anti-inflammatory, styptic, anti-viral |
Flavinoids 43,44,45,46,47,48,49,
hyperoside (hyperin), quercetin, isoquercetin, rutin, methyhespericin, iso-quercitrin, quercitrin, I-3/II-8-biapigenin, kaempferol |
|
50,51,52,53,54
capilary-strenghening, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, cholagogic, dilates coronary, arteries, sedative, tumor inhibition, antitumor, antidiarrheal |
Xanthones55
xanthonolignoid compound (roots) |
|
56,57,58
generally, xanthones exhibit anti-depressant, antitubercular, choleretic, diuretic, antimicrobial, antiviral and cardiotonic activity |
Coumarins 59
umbelliferone, scopoletin |
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-- |
Phenolic corboxylic acids 60,61
caffieic acid, chrlorogenic acid, genistic acid, ferulic acid |
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-- |
Phloroglucinol derivatives 62,63,64
hyperforin |
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65
anti-bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus) |
Essential oil components monoterpenes 68,69
a-pinene, B-pinene, myreene, limonene Sespuiterpenes 70
caryophyllen, humulene |
|
66,67
(small amounts--0.05-0.3%); the physiological activity of mono-and sespuiterpenes are reviewed elsewhere; H. perforatum essential oil is antifungal |
n-Alkanes 71,72
methyl-2-octane, n-nonane,methyl1-2-decane, n-undecane, all in the series C16-C29(especially nonacosane) |
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-- |
n-Alkanols 73
0.42% of total dried herb: 1-tetracosanol (9.7%), 1-hexacosanol (27.4%), 1-octacosanol (39.4%), 1-triacontanol (23.4%) |
|
74,75,76,77,78,79,80
health products including octacosanol are sold in Japan and the U.S. as "metabolic stimulants" (Japanese studies show it stimulates feeding of silkworm larvae; studies with neurological disorders (Parkinson's, ALS, MS) show mixed results |
Carotenoids81
epoxyxanthophylls |
|
82
available oxygen in xanthophylls may explain burn-healing activity |
Phytosterols 83
B-sitosterol |
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Copyright © 1996
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Christopher Hobbs is a fourth generation herbalist and botanist with over 30 years experience with herbs. Founder of Native Herb Custom Extracts (now Rainbow Light Custom Extracts) and the Institute for Natural Products 
