Hypericin

An anthroquinone derivative that is naturally found in the flower of H. perforatum (St. John’s wort) and has antidepressant, antiviral, and anticancer activities.^1,2 Hypericin inhibits neuronal uptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, GABA and L-glutamate, contributing to its antidepressant effects.³ It exerts broad spectrum phototoxic affects (IC₅₀ = 140 - 1,570 nM) through induction of apoptotic signaling and formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cancer cells.⁴ Hypericin also has in vitro activity, which can be enhanced with photo-activation, against a variety of viruses including HIV, influenza virus, hepatitis C, murine cytolomegalovirus, and herpes viruses.⁵

WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.

1. Wölfle, U., Seelinger, G., and Schempp, C.M. Topical application of St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum). Planta Med. 80(2-3), 109-120 (2014).

2. Jendželovská, Z., Jendželovský, R., Kuchárová, B., et al. Hypericin in the light and in the dark: Two sides of the same coin. Front. Plant Sci. 7(560), (2016).

3. Butterweck, V., Christoffel, V., Nahrstedt, A., et al. Step by step removal of hyperforin and hypericin: Activity profile of different Hypericum preparations in behavioral models. Life Sci. 73(5), 627-639 (2003).

4. Momekov, G.F., D., Zheleva-Dimitrova, D., Nedialkov, P., et al. Cytotoxic effects of hyperatomarin, a prenylated phloroglucinol from Hypericum annulatum Moris subsp. annulatum, in a panel of malignant cell lines. Phytomedicine 15(11), 1010-1015 (2008).

5. Jacobson, J.M., Feinman, L., Liebes, L., et al. Pharmacokinetics, safety, and antiviral effects of hypericin, a derivative of St. John’s wort plant, in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Antimicrob. Agents and Chemother. 45(2), 517-524 (2001).