Evidence for contributions of interactions of constituents to the anti-inflammatory activity of Hypericum perforatum

Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2014;54(6):781-9. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2011.607519.

Abstract

Hypericum perforatum (Hp) extracts contain many different classes of constituents including flavonoids and biflavonoids, phloroglucinols, naphthodianthrones, caffeic acid derivatives, and unknown and/or unidentified compounds. Many constituents may be responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity of Hp including quercetin and derivatives, hyperforin, pseudohypericin, and amentoflavone. In line with antidepressant data, it appears that the interactions of constituents may be important for the anti-inflammatory activity of Hp. Interactions of constituents, tested in bioavailability models, may explain why synergistic mechanisms have been found to be important for antidepressant and antiproliferative bioactivities. This review highlights the relationship among individual constituents and the anti-inflammatory activity of Hp extracts and proposes that interactions of constituents may be important for the anti-inflammatory activity of botanical extracts, although the exact mechanisms of the interactions are still unclear.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biflavonoids / pharmacology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Hypericum / chemistry*
  • Perylene / analogs & derivatives
  • Perylene / pharmacology
  • Phloroglucinol / analogs & derivatives
  • Phloroglucinol / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Terpenes / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Biflavonoids
  • Flavonoids
  • Plant Extracts
  • Terpenes
  • Perylene
  • amentoflavone
  • Phloroglucinol
  • pseudohypericin
  • hyperforin