THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF HYPERICUM PERFORATUM: A REVIEW
AbstractThe irreversible effects of modern therapies and increasing drug resistance have augmented our reliance on medicinal plants for herbal remedy against the deadly and infectious diseases. Hypericum perforatum or St. John’s wort (SJW) family Clusiaceae has been used to treat depression, mental disorders, wounds, peptic ulcers, malaria, gout and arthritis. Various compounds of the plant are known as sedative, diuretic and expectorant according to their effects. The flowers and the aerial parts are commonly used in the preparations of traditional medicines. Hypericum perforatum with identified active compounds like Hypericins, Hyperforins is being studied for its anti-depressant activity in both humans and animals. It is also used in the treatment of pulmonary complaints, bladder troubles in suppression of urine, dysentery, worms, diarrhoea, hysteria and other haemorrhages and jaundice. Most of its therapeutic effects with mechanism of action are critically reviewed in the present paper.
Download