Hypericum perforatum: just another herb?
Section: Medicinal herbs
How to quote
Serrano Ruiz A, Sancho López A. Hypericum perforatum: ¿una hierba más?. Metas de Enferm mar 2005; 8(2): 59-61
Authors
Alfredo Serrano Ruiz1, Arantxa Sancho López2
Position
Enfermero del Servicio de Farmacología Clínica del Hospital Puerta de Hierro, Madrid1, Farmacóloga Clínica del
Contact address
Servicio de Farmacología Clínica. Hospital Puerta de Hierro. C/ San Martín de Porres, 4. 28035 Madrid
Contact email: aserrano.hpth@salud.madrid.org
Abstract
Hypericum is one of the best known herbs in our setting. Hypericum perforatum (commonly called St John´s wort) was first used as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat skin lesions. At present, it has multiple uses (as an antidepressant, for insomnia, as an anti-anxiety drug, or as previously mentioned, an anti-inflammatory, etc.), not all of which are officially accepted.
As regards its efficacy, there are some published clinical trials showing the superiority of some hypericum extracts as compared to placebo in the short-term treatment of mild to moderate depression. Some clinical trials also demonstrate that these extracts are not inferior when compared against active comparators, although this point is a bit more controversial as there are other published clinical trials that are not conclusive of such superiority.
Currently available treatments for the treatment of depression present some limitations not only in what refers to their efficacy but also, and mainly, in what refers to their safety profile, which is not always well accepted. Within this context, the introduction of new therapeutic alternatives with a better safety profile, as suggested with hypericum, would be of great use. The fundamental problem of hypericum is its multiple pharmacological interactions. The Eupean Medical Evaluation Agency (EMEA) recommends not using hypericum concomitantly with antiretroviral drugs (protease inhibitors), digoxin, warfarin, cyclosporin, oral contraceptives and teofiline.
Keywords:
Hypericum; St John?s wort; anti-inflammatory; depression; antiretroviral drugs
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