title: Effect of St.John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) oily extract for the care and treatment of pressure sores; a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Topical formulations such as oily extracts or ointments prepared with the flowering aerial parts of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L., Hypericaceae) have been used in the management of a wide range dermatological problems including superficial wounds and burns, bruises, contusions and many others in the worldwide traditional medicines.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This is the first case study reporting the beneficial effects of an oily extract of St. John's wort in the treatment of pressure sores in a intensive care unit (ICU) patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  The oily extract of St. John's wort was applied to a volunteer patient at ICU daily for forty successive days for wound care and treatment. Healing status was monitored macroscopically by measuring the wound size and stages at certain intervals as well as histopathological evaluation of the tissue sections taken at the initial and final dates of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Evaluation of the results obtained from the macroscopical and histopathological experimentation have shown that oily extract of St. John's wort provided significant efficacy for the treatment of pressure sore wounds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  St. John's wort oily extract may be suggested as a cost-effective option for the prevention or treatment of pressure sores in ICU patients.
authors.affiliation: Saint George Austria Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey; Yeditepe University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Atasehir 34755, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yücel
authors.affiliation: Selcuk University, Faculty of Agriculture, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yüksel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kan
authors.affiliation: Yeditepe University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Atasehir 34755, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: yesilada@yeditepe.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yesilada
authors.affiliation: PATOMED Pathology Lab., Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Onat
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Akın
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D020902:Hypericum; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D010938:Plant Oils
keywords: Intensive care unit; Oily extract; Pressure sore; Skin; Wound healing