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We read with interest the article of Gaster and Holroyd¹ on St John's wort for depression. However, the authors do not mention the substance hyperforin as a component of Hypericum extracts. Hyperforin was first mentioned,^2-3 and again recently discussed,^4-5 as an antibiotic.

In the context of depression, hyperforin is a potent uptake inhibitor of serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, and -aminobutyric acid, with IC₅₀ values (concentration resulting in 50% inhibition) of about 0.05 to 0.1 µg/mL in synaptosomal preparations.⁶ The mechanism may be unique by elevating intracellular sodium ion concentration,⁷ but further effects of hyperforin on ionic conductances have been described,⁸ and the clinical relevance is unclear so far.

Hyperforin is thought to be the neurotransmitter reuptake-inhibiting constituent of Hypericum extract.⁹ Hyperforin also seems to be the active principle of Hypericum extracts in animal models of depression.¹⁰ Finally, in a clinical study, hyperforin has been shown to be the active principle in . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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