Skip to main content
Home
Zeitschriften
Zeitungen
Podcast
Gesundheitspolitik
Praxis
Allerlei
Jobs
Fachgebiete
Allgemeinmedizin Anästhesiologie & Intensivmedizin Augenheilkunde Chirurgie Dermatologie Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe HNO Innere Medizin Kinder & Jugendheilkunde Neurologie & Psychiatrie Orthopädie & Unfallchirurgie Pflege Urologie Zahnmedizin Apotheke
Subfächer Innere Medizin
Diabetologie Gastroenterologie Infektiologie Kardiologie Onkologie und Hämatologie Pneumologie Rheumatologie
Fortbildungen
Überblick Fortbildungen DFP-Literaturstudium-Artikel DFP-Webcast Fortbildungen DFP-Podcasts
Erweiterte Suche
Anmelden
nach oben
Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift
Erschienen in: Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift 11-12/2015

01.06.2015 | main topic

The mechanisms of action of St. John’s wort: an update

verfasst von: Dr. Mathias Schmidt, PhD, Prof. Dr. Veronika Butterweck

Erschienen in: Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift | Ausgabe 11-12/2015

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Summary

Pharmacological research confirms and supports the clinically observed antidepressant efficacy of St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L., SJW). This contribution is an update of a former review by the authors in 2007. Positive evidence of antidepressant effects has been found with SJW preparations, extract fractions, and single constituents. The efficacy of SJW is obviously defined by a range of parallel mechanisms of action, triggered by different constituents. In vitro research showed, among other tests, positive effects in neurotransmitter regulation (in beta adrenergic systems and glutamate receptors) and ion channel conductance. Antidepressant effects were confirmed in typical in vivo models such as the forced swimming test, the open field test, the tail suspension test, or a model of stress-impaired memory. The overall effect cannot be attributed to a single constituent or fraction. SJW is therefore an outstanding example of the total extract being defined as the active constituent of herbal medicines.
Vorheriger Artikel Phytopharmaceutical treatment of anxiety, depression, and dementia in the elderly: evidence from randomized, controlled clinical trials
Nächster Artikel Clinical trials with herbal medicinal products in children: a literature analysis
Literatur
1.
Anon. Community Herbal Monograph on Hypericum perforatum L. Herba (Well-established Medicinal Use). EMA/HMPC/101304/2008. London: European Medicines Agency; 2009.
2.
Anon. Assessment Report on Hypericum perforatum L., Herba. EMA/HMPC/101303/2008. London: European Medicines Agency; 2009.
3.
Bennett DA Jr., Phun L, Polk JF, Voglino SA, Zlotnik V, Raffa RB. Neuropharmacology of St. John’s wort (Hypericum). Ann Pharmacother. 1998;32(11):1201–8.PubMedCrossRef
4.
Nathan P. The experimental and clinical pharmacology of St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.). Mol Psychiatry. 1999;4(4):333–8.PubMedCrossRef
5.
Greeson JM, Sanford B, Monti DA. St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum): a review of the current pharmacological, toxicological, and clinical literature. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2001;153(4):402–14.CrossRef
6.
Grundmann O, Lv Y, Kelber O, Butterweck V. Mechanism of St. John’s wort extract (STW3-VI) during chronic restraint stress is mediated by the interrelationship of the immune, oxidative defense, and neuroendocrine system. Neuropharmacology. 2010;58(4–5):767–73.PubMedCrossRef
7.
Butterweck V, Schmidt M. St. John’s wort: role of active compounds for its mechanism of action and efficacy. Wien Med Wochenschr. 2007;157(13–14):356–61.PubMedCrossRef
8.
Kiyan HT, Demirci B, Baser KH, Demirci F. The in vivo evaluation of anti-angiogenic effects of Hypericum essential oils using the chorioallantoic membrane assay. Pharm Biol. 2014;52(1):44–50.PubMedCrossRef
9.
Billard C, Merhi F, Bauvois B. Mechanistic insights into the antileukemic activity of hyperforin. Curr Cancer Drug Targets. 2013;13(1):1–10.PubMedCrossRef
10.
Zaher M, Tang R, Bombarda I, Merhi F, Bauvois B, Billard C. Hyperforin induces apoptosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells through upregulation of the BH3-only protein Noxa. Int J Oncol. 2012;40(1):269–76.PubMed
11.
Novelli M, Beffy P, Menegazzi M, De Tata V, Martino L, Sgarbossa A, et al. St. John’s wort extract and hyperforin protect rat and human pancreatic islets against cytokine toxicity. Acta Diabetol. 201 4;51: 113–121.
12.
Zeng KW, Wang XM, Ko H, Kwon HC, Cha JW, Yang HO. Hyperoside protects primary rat cortical neurons from neurotoxicity induced by amyloid beta-protein via the PI3K/Akt/Bad/Bcl(XL)-regulated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Eur J Pharmacol. 2011;672(1–3):45–55.PubMedCrossRef
13.
Hofrichter J, Krohn M, Schumacher T, Lange C, Feistel B, Walbroel B, et al. Reduced Alzheimer’s disease pathology by St. John’s wort treatment is independent of hyperforin and facilitated by ABCC1 and microglia activation in mice. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2013;10(10):1057–69.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
14.
Kraus B, Wolff H, Heilmann J, Elstner EF. Influence of Hypericum perforatum extract and its single compounds on amyloid-beta mediated toxicity in microglial cells. Life Sci. 2007;81(11):884–94.PubMedCrossRef
15.
Saddiqe Z, Naeem I, Maimoona A. A review of the antibacterial activity of Hypericum perforatum L. J Ethnopharmacol. 2010;131(3):511–21.PubMedCrossRef
16.
Xiuying P, Jianping L, Ruofeng S, Liye Z, Xuehong W, Yan L. Therapeutic efficacy of Hypericum perforatum L. extract for mice infected with an influenza A virus. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2012;90(2):123–30.PubMedCrossRef
17.
Esposito F, Sanna C, Del Vecchio C, Cannas V, Venditti A, Corona A, et al. Hypericum hircinum L. components as new single-molecule inhibitors of both HIV-1 reverse transcriptase-associated DNA polymerase and ribonuclease H activities. Pathog Dis. 2013;68(3):116–24.PubMedCrossRef
18.
Huang N, Singh N, Yoon K, Loiacono CM, Kohut ML, Birt DF. The immuno-regulatory impact of orally-administered Hypericum perforatum extract on Balb/C mice inoculated with H1n1 influenza A virus. PLoS One. 2013;8(9):e76491.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
19.
De Marchis GM, Bürgi S, Kientsch U, Honegger UE. Vitamin E reduces antidepressant-related beta-adrenoceptor down-regulation in cultured cells. Comparable effects on St. John’s wort and tricyclic antidepressant treatment. Planta Med. 2006;72(15):1436–7.PubMedCrossRef
20.
Prenner L, Sieben A, Zeller K, Weiser D, Haberlein H. Reduction of high-affinity beta2-adrenergic receptor binding by hyperforin and hyperoside on rat C6 glioblastoma cells measured by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. Biochemistry. 2007;46(17):5106–13.PubMedCrossRef
21.
Jakobs D, Hage-Hülsmann A, Prenner L, Kolb C, Weiser D, Häberlein H. Downregulation of β1 -adrenergic receptors in rat C6 glioblastoma cells by hyperforin and hyperoside from St John’s wort. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2013;65(6):907–15.PubMedCrossRef
22.
Chang Y, Wang SJ. Hypericin, the active component of St. John’s wort, inhibits glutamate release in the rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes via a mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent pathway. Eur J Pharmacol. 2010;634(1–3):53–61.PubMedCrossRef
23.
Leuner K, Li W, Amaral MD, Rudolph S, Calfa G, Schuwald AM, et al. Hyperforin modulates dendritic spine morphology in hippocampal pyramidal neurons by activating Ca(2+) -permeable TRPC6 channels. Hippocampus. 2013;23(1):40–52.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
24.
Gibon J, Deloulme JC, Chevallier T, Ladeveze E, Abrous DN, Bouron A. The antidepressant hyperforin increases the phosphorylation of CREB and the expression of TrkB in a tissue-specific manner. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2013;16(1):189–98.PubMedCrossRef
25.
Bouron A, Lorrain E. Effets cellulaires et moléculaires de l’hyperforine, un antidépresseur végétal: revue de la littérature. L’Encephale. 2013;40(2):108–113.
26.
Trofimiuk E, Holownia A, Braszko JJ. Activation of CREB by St. John’s wort may diminish deletorious effects of aging on spatial memory. Arch Pharm Res. 2010;33(3):469–77.PubMedCrossRef
27.
Crupi R, Abusamra YA, Spina E, Calapai G. Preclinical data supporting/refuting the use of Hypericum perforatum in the treatment of depression. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2013;12(4):474–86.PubMedCrossRef
28.
Kraus B, Wolff H, Elstner EF, Heilmann J. Hyperforin is a modulator of inducible nitric oxide synthase and phagocytosis in microglia and macrophages. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2010;381(6):541–53.PubMedCrossRef
29.
Bukhari IA, Dar A. Behavioral profile of Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort) extract. A comparison with standard antidepressants in animal models of depression. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2013;17(8):1082–9.PubMed
30.
Liu JX, Fang YQ, Wei ZX, Yang XQ, Zeng LH. Synergic antidepressive effect of quercetin and Hypericum perforatum extract in mice. Zhejiang Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2013;42(6):615–9. (Journal of Zhejiang University Medical Sciences).PubMed
31.
Uzbay IT, Coskun I, Kayir H, Ozturk N, Ozturk Y. Extract of Hypericum perforatum blocks caffeine-induced locomotor activity in mice: a possible role of nitric oxide. Phytother Res. 2007;21(5):415–9.PubMedCrossRef
32.
Grundmann O, Kelber O, Butterweck V. Effects of St. John’s wort extract and single constituents on stress-induced hyperthermia in mice. Planta Med. 2006;72(15):1366–71.PubMedCrossRef
33.
Crupi R, Mazzon E, Marino A, Spada GL, Bramanti P, Battaglia F, et al. Hypericum perforatum treatment: effect on behaviour and neurogenesis in a chronic stress model in mice. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011;11:7.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
34.
Vissiennon C, Nieber K, Kelber O, Butterweck V. Route of administration determines the anxiolytic activity of the flavonols kaempferol, quercetin and myricetin—are they prodrugs? J Nutr Biochem. 2012;23(7):733–40.PubMedCrossRef
35.
Schulz HU, Schurer M, Bassler D, Weiser D. Investigation of pharmacokinetic data of hypericin, pseudohypericin, hyperforin and the flavonoids quercetin and isorhamnetin revealed from single and multiple oral dose studies with a hypericum extract containing tablet in healthy male volunteers. Arzneimittelforschung. 2005;55(10):561–8.PubMed
36.
Schulz HU, Schurer M, Bassler D, Weiser D. Investigation of the bioavailability of hypericin, pseudohypericin, hyperforin and the flavonoids quercetin and isorhamnetin following single and multiple oral dosing of a hypericum extract containing tablet. Arzneimittelforschung. 2005;55(1):15–22.PubMed
37.
Trofimiuk E, Holownia A, Braszko JJ. St. John’s wort may relieve negative effects of stress on spatial working memory by changing synaptic plasticity. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2011;383(4):415–22.PubMedCrossRef
38.
Trofimiuk E, Braszko JJ. Alleviation by Hypericum perforatum of the stress-induced impairment of spatial working memory in rats. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2008;376(6):463–71.PubMedCrossRef
39.
Metadaten
Titel
The mechanisms of action of St. John’s wort: an update
verfasst von
Dr. Mathias Schmidt, PhD
Prof. Dr. Veronika Butterweck
Publikationsdatum
01.06.2015
Verlag
Springer Vienna
Erschienen in
Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift / Ausgabe 11-12/2015
Print ISSN: 0043-5341
Elektronische ISSN: 1563-258X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10354-015-0372-7

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 11-12/2015

Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift 11-12/2015 Zur Ausgabe

main topic

Anti-proliferative activity of hop-derived prenylflavonoids against human cancer cell lines

main topic

Clinical trials with herbal medicinal products in children: a literature analysis

main topic

Drug safety aspects of herbal medicinal products

main topic

Phytopharmaceutical treatment of anxiety, depression, and dementia in the elderly: evidence from randomized, controlled clinical trials

main topic

Molecular mechanisms of pharmacological doses of ascorbate on cancer cells

editorial

High acceptance of herbal medicinal products: What does the future hold?