St John's wort: Prozac from the plant kingdom
by
Di Carlo G, Borrelli F, Ernst E, Izzo AA.
Department of Experimental Pharmacology,
University of Naples 'Federico II',
Via D. Montesano 49, 80131,
Naples, Italy
pwagner@mail.mcg.edu
Trends Pharmacol Sci 2001 Jun; 22(6):292-7

ABSTRACT

Conventional antidepressants are associated with a range of adverse drug reactions. The herb Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) might offer another approach to the treatment of depression. Biochemical and animal studies suggest that the phloroglucinol derivative hyperforin is the main active ingredient of St John's wort, and inhibits the synaptosomal uptake of 5-HT, noradrenaline, dopamine, glutamate and GABA. St John's wort has been shown to alleviate symptoms of mild to moderate depression, and seems to offer significant advantages over conventional antidepressants because it is associated with fewer adverse reactions. However, important herb-drug interactions have been described. In view of its efficacy and safety records, St John's wort should be considered for the first-line treatment of mild to moderate depression.

SAMe
SSRIs
Options
Lobelia
Cannabis
Kava-kava
Hyperforin
Herbal highs
St John's wort


Refs
and further reading

HOME
HedWeb
Nootropics
cocaine.wiki
Future Opioids
BLTC Research
MDMA/Ecstasy
Superhapiness?
Utopian Surgery?
The Abolitionist Project
The Hedonistic Imperative
The Reproductive Revolution
Critique of Huxley's Brave New World

The Good Drug Guide
The Responsible Parent's Guide
To Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family