Correlation of Hyperforin Content of Hypericum Perforatum(St John’s Wort) Extracts with Their Effects On Alcohol Drinking in C57Bl/6J Mice: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Extracts of the herb St John's Wort have been shown to reduce alcohol intake in alcohol-preferring rats, but it is not known which of the constituent(s) are responsible for this effect. In this study, the effect of a crude methanolic extract of Hypericum perforatum (negligible hyperforin content) on alcohol drinking in C57BL/6J alcohol-preferring mice was compared with that of a hyperforin-rich extract (45% hyperforin) prepared by extracting the herb with supercritical carbon dioxide. The dose of the hyperforin-rich extract required to significantly reduce 10% ethanol intake (5 mg/kg) was 125-fold less than that required for the crude extract (625 mg/kg), and was comparable to the dose of fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) required to produce a similar effect. None of these agents significantly affected water intake. These results suggest that the effects of H. perforatum extracts on alcohol drinking behaviour are due to the hyperforin content of the herb rather than to other, more polar constituents. Hyperforin is an unstable compound and this study also highlights the effect of different methods of extract preparation on hyperforin content.

Natural and complementary therapies for substance use disorders

“…Animal studies suggest that acute administration of hypericum can reduce voluntary alcohol intake and act synergistically with opiate antagonists [8 ]. Two recent studies examining the effects of hypericum on alcohol intake in rats confirm previous research and demonstrate that the constituent hyperforin contributes to observed reduction in alcohol intake [15,16]. Hyperforin is currently considered to be the primary contributor to antidepressant effects [17].…”

Hypericum perforatum and substance dependence: a review

“…All of them were performed on experimental animals. It has been suggested that HPE inhibits ethanol intake and preference in several strains of ethanol preferring rats (Rezvani et al, 1999;De Vry et al, 1999;Perfumi et al, 1999Perfumi et al, , 2001Perfumi et al, , 2002 and mice (Wright et al, 2003). In a recent report, Perfumi et al (2005) showed that HPE significantly reduced ethanol self-administration, while it did not modify saccharin self-administration.…”

REVIEW: Modulation of high alcohol drinking in the inbred Fawn–Hooded (FH/Wjd) rat strain: implications for treatment

“…It was concluded that these multidimensional effects of St. John’s wort were most likely the consequence of two separate actions rather than to a single related mechanism. The chemical that is responsible for the actions of St. John’s wort has not yet been confirmed, but some evidence points to hyperforin (Wright et al . 2003; Perfumi et al .…”