Abstract
The genus Hypericum includes more than 450 species distributed in Europe, North America, North Africa and West Asia. These plants are widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation, bacterial and viral infections, burns and gastric disorders. The use for alleviating inflammation and promoting wound healing is well known for H. Perforatum L. (St. John’s wort) and other species. Because of its pharmacological activity, H. perforatum L. is one of the most important species of this genus. This plant has been largely utilized for its efficacy in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. However, some other species have been utilized in traditional medicine and have been studied for their phytochemical composition and for their biological activities to date. Hypericum species contain biologically active secondary metabolites belonging to at least ten different classes, with prevalence of naphthodianthrones (hypericin and pseudohypericin), phloroglucinols (hyperforin), flavonoids (rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, quercetin, amentoflavone) and phenylpropanoids (chlorogenic acid). However, great variations in contents have been reported for wild populations worldwide. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of most recent studies about potential pharmaceutical applications of plants belonging to Hypericum genus. The most interesting isolated active principles and both in vitro and in vivo effects of Hypericum extracts are presented and discussed.
Keywords: Anticancer activity, Antimicrobial activity, Biological activities, Extract, Hypericum, Natural compounds.
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry
Title:New Potential Pharmaceutical Applications of Hypericum Species
Volume: 16 Issue: 9
Author(s): Mariangela Marrelli, Giancarlo Statti, Filomena Conforti and Francesco Menichini
Affiliation:
Keywords: Anticancer activity, Antimicrobial activity, Biological activities, Extract, Hypericum, Natural compounds.
Abstract: The genus Hypericum includes more than 450 species distributed in Europe, North America, North Africa and West Asia. These plants are widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation, bacterial and viral infections, burns and gastric disorders. The use for alleviating inflammation and promoting wound healing is well known for H. Perforatum L. (St. John’s wort) and other species. Because of its pharmacological activity, H. perforatum L. is one of the most important species of this genus. This plant has been largely utilized for its efficacy in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. However, some other species have been utilized in traditional medicine and have been studied for their phytochemical composition and for their biological activities to date. Hypericum species contain biologically active secondary metabolites belonging to at least ten different classes, with prevalence of naphthodianthrones (hypericin and pseudohypericin), phloroglucinols (hyperforin), flavonoids (rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, quercetin, amentoflavone) and phenylpropanoids (chlorogenic acid). However, great variations in contents have been reported for wild populations worldwide. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of most recent studies about potential pharmaceutical applications of plants belonging to Hypericum genus. The most interesting isolated active principles and both in vitro and in vivo effects of Hypericum extracts are presented and discussed.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Marrelli Mariangela, Statti Giancarlo, Conforti Filomena and Menichini Francesco, New Potential Pharmaceutical Applications of Hypericum Species, Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry 2016; 16 (9) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389557515666150709105844
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389557515666150709105844 |
Print ISSN 1389-5575 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5607 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Bioprospecting of Natural Products as Sources of New Multitarget Therapies
According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, bioprospecting is the exploration of biodiversity and indigenous knowledge to develop commercially valuable products for pharmaceutical and other applications. Bioprospecting involves searching for useful organic compounds in plants, fungi, marine organisms, and microorganisms. Natural products traditionally constituted the primary source of more than ...read more
Computational Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry
The thematic issue "Computational Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry" provides a robust platform for delving into state-of-the-art computational methodologies and technologies that significantly propel advancements in medicinal chemistry. This edition seeks to amalgamate top-tier reviews spotlighting the latest trends and breakthroughs in the fusion of computational approaches, including artificial intelligence (AI) ...read more
Mitochondria as a Therapeutic Target in Metabolic Disorders
Mitochondria are the primary site of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in mammalian cells. Moreover, these organelles are an important source of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in virtually any nucleated cell type. The modulation of a myriad of cellular signaling pathways depends on the mitochondrial physiology. Mitochondrial dysfunction is observed ...read more
Natural Products and Dietary Supplements in Alleviation of Metabolic, Cardiovascular, and Neurological Disorders
Metabolic disorders like diabetes, obesity, inflammation, oxidative stress, cancer etc, cardiovascular disorders like angina, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure etc as well as neurological disorders like Alzheimer?s, Parkinson?s, Epilepsy, Depression, etc are the global burden. They covered the major segment of the diseases and disorders from which the human community ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Death by Insulin: Management of Self-Harm and Suicide in Diabetes Management
Current Diabetes Reviews Triterpenoids for Cancer Prevention and Treatment: Current Status and Future Prospects
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology EDITORIAL (Hot Topic: “Signal Transduction and Response to Anti-Cancer Therapy”)
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Quinone-Based Drugs: An Important Class of Molecules in Medicinal Chemistry
Medicinal Chemistry Cancer-Associated Carbonic Anhydrases and Their Inhibition
Current Pharmaceutical Design Altered Hyaluronan Biosynthesis and Cancer Progression: an Immunological Perspective
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Risk Factors for Lung Cancer in Never Smokers: A Recent Review Including Genetics
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Killing Glioma ‘Stem-like’ Cells via Drug-Induced Relocation of Endosomal Urokinase Proteins
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Bisphosphonates in Lung Cancer: Can They Provide Benefits Beyond Prevention of Skeletal Morbidity?
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry NF-κB in Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Probiotics: An Update
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Aurora B: A New Prognostic Marker and Therapeutic Target in Cancer
Current Medicinal Chemistry Anti-Tumor Effects of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and Vitamin D Analogs
Current Pharmaceutical Design Cytosine Methyltransferases as Tumor Markers
Current Genomics Zinc Dependent Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors in Cancer Therapeutics: Recent Update
Current Medicinal Chemistry Meet Our Editorial Board Member
Current Medicinal Chemistry Propitious Profile of Peppery Piperine
Current Molecular Pharmacology Mechanism-based Modulator Discovery for Sirtuin-catalyzed Deacetylation Reaction
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Apoptosis-related BCL2-family Members: Key Players in Chemotherapy
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Recent Advances in Chalcone-Based Anticancer Heterocycles: A Structural and Molecular Target Perspective
Current Medicinal Chemistry Towards Second Generation Hypericin Based Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy
Current Organic Chemistry