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Hypericum extract preparations are used extensively in many countries to treat mildly to moderately depressed patients. While this was based previously on traditional experience, extensive research over the last 10 years has given a broad preclinical and clinical basis to justify the use of Hypericum as an antidepressant. This book reviews the available data related to the biochemical, functional, and behavioural pharmacology of Hypericum and its active constituents. The clinical chapters overview the evidenced basis for its use as an antidepressant, initial data in anxiety and somatoform disorders, and the site effect profile of Hypericum and its possible relevant drug interactions. The known pharmacokinetics of the relevant constituents and the biopharmaceutical quality of commercially available Hypericum preparations are also discussed.
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(( 3. Umbruch 22.12.2004 ))
Milestones in Drug Therapy MDT
Series Editors Prof. Michael J. Parnham, PhD Senior Scientific Advisor PLIVA Research Institute Ltd Prilaz baruna Filipovic´ a 29 HR-10000 Zagreb Croatia
Prof. Dr. J. Bruinvels Sweelincklaan 75 NL-3723 JC Bilthoven The Netherlands
St. John’s Wort and its Active Principles in Depression and Anxiety Edited by W. E. Müller
Birkhäuser Verlag Basel · Boston · Berlin
Editor Walter E. Müller Pharmakologisches Institut für Naturwissenschaftler Biozentrum Universität Frankfurt Marie-Curie-Str.9 60439 Frankfurt Germany Advisory Board J.C. Buckingham (Imperial College School of Medicine, London, UK) R.J. Flower (The William Harvey Research Institute, London, UK) G. Lambrecht (J.W. Goethe Universität, Frankfurt, Germany)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data St. John’s Wort and its active principles in depression and anxiety / W.E. Müller, editor. p. ; cm.-- (Milestones in drug therapy) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 3-7643-6160-3 (alk. paper) 1. Hypericum perforatum--Therapeutic use. 2. Affective disorders--Treatment. I. Müller, Walter E. (Walter Erhard), 1947- II. Series. [DNLM: 1. Hypericum. 2. Phytotherapy. 3. Anxiety Disorders--drug therapy. 4. Depressive Disorder--drug therapy. QV 766 S143 2005] RS165.H95S73 2005 615’.323624--dc22 20044062277 Bibliographic information published by Die Deutsche Bibliothek Die Deutsche Bibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data is available in the Internet at .
ISBN 10: 3-7643-6160-3 Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel - Boston - Berlin ISBN 13: 978-3-7643-6160-0 The publisher and editor can give no guarantee for the information on drug dosage and administration contained in this publication. The respective user must check its accuracy by consulting other sources of reference in each individual case. The use of registered names, trademarks etc. in this publication, even if not identified as such, does not imply that they are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations or free for general use. This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, re-use of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in other ways, and storage in data banks. For any kind of use, permission of the copyright owner must be obtained. © 2005 Birkhäuser Verlag, P.O. Box 133, CH-4010 Basel, Switzerland Part of Springer Science+Business Media Printed on acid-free paper produced from chlorine-free pulp. TCF ∞
Printed in Germany ISBN 10: 3-7643-6160-3 ISBN 13: 978-3-7643-6160-0 987654321
www. birkhauser.ch
Contents List of contributors
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Walter E. Müller Introduction and historical outline
VII
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