St. John's wort

Am Fam Physician. 2005 Dec 1;72(11):2249-54.

Abstract

St. John's wort has been used to treat a variety of conditions. Several brands are standardized for content of hypericin and hyperforin, which are among the most researched active components of St. John's wort. St. John's wort has been found to be superior to placebo and equivalent to standard antidepressants for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Studies of St. John's wort for the treatment of major depression have had conflicting results. St. John's wort is generally well tolerated, although it may potentially reduce the effectiveness of several pharmaceutical drugs.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anthracenes
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Depression / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Hypericum*
  • Perylene / analogs & derivatives
  • Perylene / therapeutic use
  • Phloroglucinol / analogs & derivatives
  • Phloroglucinol / therapeutic use
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Preparations
  • Terpenes / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anthracenes
  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds
  • Plant Preparations
  • Terpenes
  • Perylene
  • hypericin
  • Phloroglucinol
  • hyperforin