St John's wort: Prozac from the plant kingdom.
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.
Di Carlo
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Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy. aaizzo@unina.it
Borrelli
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Ernst
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Izzo
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AA
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001682:Biological Availability; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004347:Drug Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D020902:Hypericum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010696:Phloroglucinol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013729:Terpenes / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D010696:Phloroglucinol; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D013729:Terpenes; C001654:hyperforin