It is necessary to know the growth phase of the plant in order to determine which active constituents are present and their maximum percentage in Hypericum perforatum. Under these circumstances it is necessary to buy quality extract that is standardized to both hypericin and hyperforin. The use of the raw drug has been reported to have side effects. Thus, it is vital that manufacturers ensure the quality of the product and that consumers look for the percentage of active constituents of Hypericum perforatum.
Bedsides hypericin and hyperforin, Hypericum perforatum contains flavonoids, xanthones and volatile oil. These additional compounds have not yet been thoroughly investigated as to their biological activities in humans. Therefore, they cannot be ruled out in contributing antidepressant activity of Hypericum perforatum extract. In animal models, it has been observed that xanthones potentiate the antidepressant activity of hyperforin.
As researchers strove to understand the compound’s antidepressant mechanism, it was concluded that possibly Xanthones present in Hypericum perforatum contributed to the antidepressant activity. The Xanthone content varies from was 2.6%-4%. Out of two different Xanthones, 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxy-xanthone has been shown to be more active. Xanthones also possess serotonin receptor binding inhibiting activity in animal models. Based upon these results, it was concluded that the antidepressant activity of Hypericum is not limited to one of the constituents, but is probably the result of a mixtures of the constituents.This plant is akin to a biosynthetic laboratory, not only for chemical compounds, but also a multitude of compounds like glycosides, alkaloids etc. These compounds exert physiological and therapeutic effects. The compounds that are responsible for medicinal property of the drug are usually the secondary metabolites. Additional investigations in determination of the actual constituent must be undertaken.
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