Pseudohypericin is an aromatic polycyclic dione that is very closely related to hypericin. It is found most commonly in the St. John's wort family of plants, namely in Hypericum perforatum.[1] In preliminary studies in animal models, pseudohypericin has shown antiviral effects.[2][3] It may also contribute to the potential antidepressant effect of Hypericum perforatum extracts.[4]
References
- ^ Kitanov, Gerassim M. (2001). "Hypericin and pseudohypericin in some Hypericum species". Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. 29 (2): 171–178. doi:10.1016/S0305-1978(00)00032-6. PMID 11106845.
- ^ Meruelo, D.; Lavie, G.; Lavie, D. (1988). "Therapeutic agents with dramatic antiretroviral activity and little toxicity at effective doses: Aromatic polycyclic diones hypericin and pseudohypericin". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 85 (14): 5230–5234. Bibcode:1988PNAS...85.5230M. doi:10.1073/pnas.85.14.5230. PMC 281723. PMID 2839837.
- ^ Hudson, J.B.; Lopez-Bazzocchi, I.; Towers, G.H.N. (1991). "Antiviral activities of hypericin". Antiviral Research. 15 (2): 101–112. doi:10.1016/0166-3542(91)90028-P. PMID 1650164.
- ^ Butterweck, Veronika; Petereit, Frank; Winterhoff, Hilke; Nahrstedt, Adolf (1998). "Solubilized Hypericin and Pseudohypericin from Hypericum perforatum Exert Antidepressant Activity in the Forced Swimming Test3". Planta Medica. 64 (4): 291–294. doi:10.1055/s-2006-957437. PMID 9619107.