36 patients with essential hypertension at grade I or II and ages of 60-84, treated by Hyperium at dose of 1-2 mg/day has shown that the drug reduced both diastolic and systolic blood pressure and did not cause the hematological and metabolic disorders. Therefore, Hyperium may be used for patients with grade I or II hypertension. However, it should further study on the larger number of patients and in long-term duration
Hypertension ; Hypericum

Study on the acute toxicity of Hypericum japonicum and Hypericum patulum to determine the ability to treat some diseases of liver. Haft of the upper of Hypericum japonicum Thumb. ex Murr. collected in April, when it having flowers in Ha Tay province. Raw materials have been dried in shade to compound extracts to the experiments. The leaves of Hypericum patulum Thumb. ex Murr. collected in October in Sa Pa. Raw materials have been dried, compounded extracts and mixed the water by this method. Results have shown that at indicated doses, the herbs show no acute toxicity
Toxicity ; Hypericum ; Plant Extracts

This study explored the chemical constituents of the aerial part of Hypericum curvisepalum. Sixteen compounds were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of H. curvisepalum with various chromatographic techniques, including a new prenylated phenyl polyketide, mysorenone D(1). Other compounds were mysorenone-A(2), mysorenone-C(3), mysorenone-B(4), peplidiforone A(5), 4-methoxy-3-(2-methylbut-3-en-2-yl)-6-phenyl-2H-pyran-2-one(6), hyperenone-A(7), 4-(3,3-dimethylallyl)oxy-6-phenyl-α-pyrone(8), peplidiforone B(9), elegaphenone(10), hypercohin A(11), hyperisampsin G(12), spathulenol(13), quercetin(14), β-sitosterol(15), and β-amyrin(16).
Benzophenones ; Hypericum ; Quercetin

Due to their fascinating chemical structures and extensive pharmacological activities, polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols(PPAPs) have become one of the current research hotspots of natural products. In particular, some of the PPAPs not only have novel non-traditional skeleton types, but also contain more unknown possible activities, which are of great significance for the development of lead compounds. The structure, source, biosynthetic pathway and pharmacological activities of PPAPs with non-traditio-nal skeleton types isolated and identified in recent years are reviewed, in order to provide references for further research on such compounds.
Biological Products ; Hypericum ; Molecular Structure ; Phloroglucinol

Hypericum species are distributed widely in China, especially in the southwest. This genus is rich in species types in China, including 55 species and 8 subspecies. The main chemical constituents of Hypericum species are flavonoids, xanthones and polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols(PPAPs). PPAPs are characterized by polycyclic and branched-chain substitutions in their structures, which make their structure types diverse. Moreover, they have been found to have antitumor, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and other biological activities. This research classified and summarized 344 polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols from Hypericum plants in order to provide a scientific basis for further development and utilization of PPAPs from the genus.
Flavonoids ; Hypericum ; Molecular Structure ; Phloroglucinol/pharmacology* ; Xanthones

OBJECTIVE: Results of several recent randomized clinical trials and epidemiological studies casted many doubts about the validity and safety of conventional hormone therapy for postmenopausal women. More and more women want to try more natural and safe ways of treating their climacteric symptoms. Black cohosh combined with St. John's wort may be effective in climacteric symptoms alternative to hormone therapy. This multicenter randomized double-blind placebo-controlled prospective clinical trial was carried out to evaluate the effect of the combined preparation of black cohosh and St. John's wort, Feramin-Q(R), on the general climacteric symptoms, hot flushes and climacteric depression. METHODS: Total of 80 postmenopausal women having moderate to severe degree of climacteric symptoms were randomly allocated to receive Feramin-Q(R) (n=40) or placebo (n=40) daily for 12 weeks. Fifty eight subjects completed this clinical study. The primary endpoint, the relief of general climacteric symptom and hot flushes were evaluated by measuring Kupperman index and the secondary endpoint, the relief of climacteric depression by Beck Depression Inventory at 4 and 12 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: After 4 and 12 weeks of treatment, Feramin-Q(R) and placebo groups showed significant decline of Kupperman index and BDI scores compared with baseline scores, but Kupperman index and BDI scores between the groups were not significantly different at 12 weeks. The changes of BDI scores between the groups were different at borderline significant level (p=0.07). Hot flush scores of Feramin-Q(R) groups were significantly decreased after 12 weeks of therapy, which showed significantly different at borderline level (p=0.07) from that of placebo. There was no statistical difference in change of hot flush scores from the baseline between the groups after 12 weeks. Among the 45 postmenopausal women with moderate to severe hot flush, Feramin-Q(R) group showed significant decrease of hot flush scores, which was significantly different compared with placebo group at 12 weeks of therapy. There were more patients (86.4%) in Feramin-Q(R) group, who had much more improvement of hot flushes compared with placebo group (54.6%) (P=0.04). CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences between placebo and Feramin-Q(R) groups concerning the effect on general climacteric symptoms and depression but Feramin-Q(R) was significantly more effective than placebo in relieving of hot flush in postmenopausal women with moderate to severe hot flushes. Therefore Feramin-Q(R) seems to be effective alternative for moderate to severe hot flushes.
Cimicifuga* ; Climacteric* ; Depression ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypericum* ; Prospective Studies

Hyperforin is a representative polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs) that exerts a variety of pharmacological activities. The complete biosynthesis pathway of hyperforin has not been elucidated due to its complex structure and unclear genetic background of its source plants. This mini-review focuses on the bioactivity and biosynthesis of hyperforin. These analyses can provide useful insights into the biosynthesis investigations of hyperforin and other PPAPs with complex structures.
Phloroglucinol/chemistry* ; Terpenes/chemistry* ; Hypericum/chemistry* ; Molecular Structure

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of the combined preparation of black cohosh and St. John's wort (GYNO-Plus(R)) in post menopausal women with symptoms. METHODS: A total number of 60 postmenopausal women with climacteric symptoms was allocated to take GYNO-Plus(R) for 3 months. And the change of the Kupperman menopausal index (KI), serum FSH and E2 level, bone densitometry (BMD), mammographic density, liver function test (LFT) and adverse effects were assessed. RESULTS: There was statistical difference in the decline of KI after 3 months treatment. But, there were no statistical differences in the change of serum FSH and E2 level, BMD, mammographic density, and LFT. There were nine adverse events in study, but two cases were directly related to the drug and they were resolved without any sequela. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the combined preparation of black cohosh and St. John's wort is a safe, effective alternative treatment option for patients in whom hormone replacement therapy is either refused or contraindicated.
Cimicifuga* ; Climacteric ; Densitometry ; Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Hypericum* ; Liver Function Tests ; Menopause

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of Hypericum petiolulatum.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated and purified by column chromatography on silica gel, macroporous adsorbent resin, Sephadex LH-20, and preparative HPLC. Structures of the compounds were identified by NMR and MS spectroscopic methods.

RESULTNine lignans were obtained and their structures were elucidated as (-)-(2R, 3R)-1-O-feruloyl-8,8'-bisdihydrosiringenin (1), (-) -secoisolariciresinol 4-O-beta-D-glucopyrano-side (2), isolariciresinol-beta-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), 5-methoxy-9beta-xylopyra-nosyl-(+) -isolariciresinol (4), (+) -lyoniresinol 2alpha-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (5), 5-methoxy-9-beta-xylopyranosyl-(-) -isolariciresinol (6), isolariciresinol 6a-O-beta-D-gluco-side (7), (+)-lyoniresinol 3alpha-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (8) and 7-methoxy-5-benzofuranpropanol 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (9).

CONCLUSIONCoupound 1 was new and compounds 2-9 were obtained from the genus Hypericum for the first time.

OBJECTIVETo establish a high performance capillary electrophoresis method with diode array detection (HPCE-DAD) for simultaneous determination of rutin, isoquercitrin, hyperoside, quercitrin, kaempferol and quercetin in Hyperici Japonici Herba.

METHODBased on the mode of capillary zone electrophoresis, 40 mmol x L(-1) borax was used as buffer solution (pH 8.62), uncoated fused silica capillary (56 cm x 64.5 cm x 75 microm) was used, separation voltage was 25 kV, detection wavelength was at 206 nm, column temperature was maintained at 25 degrees C, and sample was injected at 50 mbar, 8 s.

RESULTSix flavonoids showed good linearity (r > 0.9953) in the range of the tested concentration, the average recoveries of the method were between 98.8%-102.9%.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, accurate and reproducible, and can be used for quality control of Hyperici Japonici Herba.