Lessons learned from herbal medicinal products: the example of St. John's Wort (perpendicular).
The example of St. John's wort offers convincing evidence for the concept that modern methods of pharmacological and phytochemical research are effective in advancing the development of traditional herbal remedies. As a consequence of these efforts, it is known today that several compounds from different structural groups and with different mechanisms of action seem to be responsible for the observed antidepressant efficacy of St. John's Wort. Co-effectors in the extract improve the bioavailability of active constituents such as hypericin (1) (pharmacokinetic synergy). Unwanted side effects are preventable without remarkable loss of activity when the responsible constituent(s) are carefully removed during the extraction process, as demonstrated for hyperforin (3), which is responsible for the induction of cytochrome P450 (CYP)-metabolizing enzymes (CYP3A4, in particular). On the basis of our findings, it is likely that positive interactions between single compounds occur more frequently in traditionally used herbal preparations than is known presently.
Nahrstedt
Adolf
A
Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, Westfalische Wilhelms-Universitat, D-48149 Munster, Germany. anahrstedt@uni-muenster.de
Butterweck
Veronika
V
D000873:Anthracenes; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020902:Hypericum / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010569:Perylene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010696:Phloroglucinol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000737:chemistry
D000873:Anthracenes; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; D028321:Plant Preparations; D013729:Terpenes; D010569:Perylene; C004965:hypericin; D010696:Phloroglucinol; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; C510163:CYP3A4 protein, human; C001654:hyperforin