Hypericum

Hypericum
Hypericum × moserianum Hypericum × moserianum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Rosidae (unranked) Eurosids I Order: Malpighiales Family: Clusiaceae Subfamily: Hypericoideae Tribe: Hypericeae Genus: Hypericum L.
Species
Around 400, see text
Synonyms
Adenotrias Jaub. & Spach Androsaemum Duhamel Androsemum Link Ascyrum L. Lianthus N.Robson Olympia Spach Sanidophyllum Small Sarothra L. Takasagoya Y.Kimura Triadenia Spach

Hypericum is a genus of about 400 species of flowering plants in the family Clusiaceae, subfamily Hypericoideae (formerly often considered a full family Hypericaceae). The genus has a nearly world-wide distribution, missing only from tropical lowlands, deserts and polar regions. All members of the genus may be referred to as St. John's-worts, though they are also commonly just called hypericums, and some are known as tutsans. The marsh St. John's-worts are nowadays separated in Triadenum.

St. John's-worts vary from annual or perennial herbaceous herbs 5-10 cm tall to shrubs and small trees up to 12 m tall. The leaves are opposite, simple oval, 1-8 cm long, either deciduous or evergreen. The flowers vary from pale to dark yellow, and from 0.5-6 cm in diameter, with five (rarely four) petals. The fruit is usually a dry capsule which splits to release the numerous small seeds; in some species it is fleshy and berry-like.

Uses of Hypericum

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Hypericum calycinum cv. 'Hidcote'

Some species are used as ornamental plants and have large, showy flowers. Numerous hybrids and cultivars have been developed for use in horticulture, such as Hypericum × moserianum (H. calycinum × H. patulum) and Hypericum calycinum cv. 'Hidcote'.

St. John's-worts can occur as nuisance weeds in farmland and gardens. On pastures, some can be more than a nuisance, causing debilitating photosensitivity and sometimes abortion in livestock. The beetles Chrysolina quadrigemina, Chrysolina hyperici and Agrilus hyperici like to feed on Common St. John's-wort (H. perforatum) and have been used for biocontrol where the plant has become an invasive weed.

Hypericum species are the only known food plants of the caterpillar of the Treble-bar, a species of moth. Other Lepidoptera species whose larvae sometimes feed on Hypericum include Common Emerald, The Engrailed (recorded on Imperforate St. John's-wort, H. maculatum), Grey Pug and Setaceous Hebrew Character.

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Hypericin

Medical properties

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Hyperforin

Common St. John's-wort (H. perforatum) is since long used in herbalism. It was already known to have medical properties in the Classical Antiquity. It was a standard component of theriacs, from the Mithridate of Aulus Cornelius Celsus' De Medicina (ca. 30 CE) to the Venice treacle of d'Amsterdammer Apotheek in 1686. Folk usages included oily extract ("St. John's oil") and Hypericum snaps.

H. perforatum is the most potent species and it is today grown and collected commercially for use in herbalism and medicine; other St. John's-worts probably also possess interesting properties and chemical compounds but are not well researched. As these secondary compounds appear to be related to deterring herbivores, they are present in varying and unpredictable quantities. Still, a number of high-yield cultivars have been developed.

Two main compounds of interest have been studied in more detail: hyperforin and hypericin. However, the pharmacology of H. perforatum is not resolved, and at least its antidepressant properties are caused by a wide range of factors interacting. As psychiatric medication, it is usually taken as pills, or as tea. Few standardized preparations are available, and research has mainly studied alcoholic extracts and isolated compounds. What research data exists supports a noticeable effect in many cases of light and medium depression, but no significant improvement of severe depression and OCD.

Another common use of H. perforatum is as oily extract. The ruby-red oil appears to be strongly antibiotic, assisting healing of wounds, first-degree burns and concussions. Both hypericin and hyperforin are considered to be antibiotic by modern science. But, justifying it with the then-current doctrine of signatures, herbalist William Coles wrote in the 17th century already that

"The little holes whereof the leaves of Saint Johns wort are full, doe resemble all the pores of the skin and therefore it is profitable for all hurts and wounds that can happen thereunto."

As mentioned above, there is evidence that St. John's-worts can act as abortifacients; it interferes with the Combined oral contraceptive pill. Complications have also occurred in human patients. High-dosage H. perforatum interacts with a wide range of medications due to activating the Pregnane X receptor detoxification pathway, as well as causing photosensitivity. It is strongly recommended not to take St. John's-wort during pregnancy or when tanning, and it has caused a few deaths in patients undergoing anti-HIV/AIDS and cancer therapy. Extremely high doses (rarely reached with OTC preparations) are hepatotoxic.

Selected species

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Tutsan, Hypericum androsaemum

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Hypericum coris

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Hypericum ericoides, fruiting

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Hypericum inodorum cv. 'Magical Passion'

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Hypericum lanceolatum

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Hypericum olympicum

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Slender St. John's-wort, Hypericum pulchrum

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Hypericum tomentosum

Hypericum acmosepalum Hypericum acostanum Hypericum addingtonii Hypericum adenotrichum Hypericum aegypticum Hypericum anagalloides – Bog St. John's-wort, Tinker's-penny Hypericum androsaemum – Tutsan Hypericum annulatum Hypericum aphyllum Hypericum ascyron Hypericum asplundii Hypericum athoum Hypericum atomarium Hypericum augustinii Hypericum balearicum Hypericum balfourii Hypericum barbatum Hypericum beanii Hypericum bellum Hypericum boreale – Northern St. John's-wort Hypericum buckleii – Blue Ridge St. John's-wort Hypericum bupleuroides Hypericum calycinum – Great St. John's-wort, Jerusalem Star, "Rose of Sharon", "Aaron's Beard" Hypericum calycinum cv. 'Hidcote' Hypericum canadense L. – Canadian St. John's-wort, Irish St. John's-wort Hypericum canariense Hypericum capitatum Hypericum cerastoides Hypericum choisianum Hypericum cistifolium Hypericum concinnum – Goldwire Hypericum confertum Hypericum cordifolium Hypericum coris Hypericum crenulatum Hypericum crux-andreae Hypericum cumulicola – Highlands Scrub Hypericum Hypericum curvisepalum Hypericum delphicum Hypericum densiflorum Hypericum denticulatum Walt. – Coppery St. John's-wort Hypericum dissimulatum – Disguised St. John's-wort Hypericum dyeri Hypericum eastwoodianum Hypericum elegans Hypericum ellipticum Hypericum elodes – Marsh Hypericum Hypericum elongatum Hypericum empetrifolium Hypericum erectum Hypericum ericoides Hypericum fasciculatum Hypericum fieriense Hypericum foliosum Hypericum formosum – Western St. John's-wort Hypericum forrestii Hypericum fragile Hypericum frondosa Hypericum galioides Hypericum gentianoides (L.) BSP. – Orange-grass St. John's-wort, Pinweed Hypericum glandulosum Hypericum gnidiifolium Hypericum gramineum Hypericum grandifolium Hypericum graveolens Hypericum hartwegii Hypericum henryi Hypericum hircinum – Stinking Tutsan Hypericum hirsutum L. – Hairy St. John's-wort Hypericum hookerianum Hypericum humifusum L. – Trailing St. John's-wort Hypericum hypericoides

Hypericum hyssopifolium Hypericum inodorum Hypericum japonicum Hypericum kalmianum – Kalm's St. John's-wort Hypericum kelleri Hypericum kotschyanum Hypericum kouytchense Hypericum lagarocladum Hypericum lancasteri Hypericum lanceolatum Hypericum lanuginosum Hypericum leschenaultii Hypericum linariifolium – Toadflax-leaved St. John's-wort Hypericum linarioides Hypericum llanganaticum Hypericum lobbii Hypericum lobocarpum Hypericum maclarenii Hypericum maculatum – Imperforate St. John's-wort Hypericum maguirei Hypericum majus – Larger Canadian St. John's-wort Hypericum matangense Hypericum monogynum Hypericum montanum L. – Pale St. John's-wort Hypericum montbretii Hypericum × moserianum Hypericum mutilum L. – Dwarf St. John's-wort Hypericum nanum Hypericum nudiflorum Hypericum nummularium – Round-leaved St. John's-wort Hypericum oblongifolium Hypericum olympicum Hypericum orientale Hypericum origanifolium Hypericum pallens Hypericum patulum Thunb Hypericum peninsulare Hypericum perfoliatum Hypericum perforatum – Common St. John's-wort, Perforate St John's-wort, Tipton's Weed, Klamath Weed Hypericum perforatum cv. 'Anthos' Hypericum prietoi Hypericum prolificum – Shrubby St. John's-wort Hypericum pseudohenryi – Irish Tutsan Hypericum pulchrum – Slender St. John's-wort Hypericum punctatum Lam. – Spotted St. John's-wort Hypericum quitense Hypericum reflexum Hypericum reptans Hypericum reductum Hypericum revolutum Vahl Hypericum richeri Hypericum roeperanum Schimp. ex A. Rich. Hypericum rumeliacum Hypericum sampsonii Hypericum scopulorum Hypericum scouleri – Western St. John's-wort Hypericum setosum Hypericum socotranum Hypericum sphaerocarpum – Roundfruit St. John's-wort Hypericum spruneri Hypericum stellatum Hypericum subsessile Hypericum tenuicaule Hypericum tetrapterum – Square-stalked St. John's-wort, Square-stemmed St. John's-wort, St. Peter's-wort, Peterwort Hypericum tomentosum Hypericum tortuosum Hypericum trichocaulon Hypericum triquetrifolium – Curled-leaved St. John's-wort Hypericum undulatum – Wavy St. John's-wort Hypericum uralum Hypericum vacciniifolium Hypericum wilsonii Hypericum xylosteifolium – Turkish Tutsan Hypericum yakusimense

See also

• Adverse effects of drugs
• Hyperic HQ, a popular open source system and network monitoring software, named after Hypericum

External links

• Selecting Shrubs for Your Home - Kalm St. Johnswort (Hypericum kalmianum) (University of Illinois Extension)

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