EFSA Compendium of Botanicals

Draft - work in progress

St. John's wort (as plant) // Hypericum perforatum L.

Family:: Hypericaceae
Approval state:: Approved
Number of articles retrieved:: 10730
Number of processed references:: 4

Compositions

#1: hyperforin #2: pseudohypericin #3: hypericin

Endpoint Studies

#1: hypericin given orally in doses of 0.05 and 0.10 mg/kg/d caused considerable phototoxicity: dermatitis and erythema after sun exposure #2: inhibit synaptosomal uptake of serotonin etc. #3: phototoxicity - horse

Genotoxicity

#1: mutation, reproduction test

Composition #1: Rietjens, IMCM., Martena, MJ., Boersma, MG., Spiegelenberg, W., Alink, GM. Molecular mechanisms of toxicity of important food-borne phytotoxins. molecular nutrition & food research, 2005, vol. 49, no. 2, p. 131–158. DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.200400078. [DOI link]

Language:

English (en)
Substance:

hyperforin (RF-00003433-PAR)
Analytical method code:

Unspecified (F598A)
Result unit:

Percent (G138A)
Result expression:

Whole weight (B001A)
Result type:

Numerical Value (VAL)
Value (concentration, content):

2-4.5
Internal remarks:

hyperforin

Composition #2: Rietjens, IMCM., Martena, MJ., Boersma, MG., Spiegelenberg, W., Alink, GM. Molecular mechanisms of toxicity of important food-borne phytotoxins. molecular nutrition & food research, 2005, vol. 49, no. 2, p. 131–158. DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.200400078. [DOI link]

Language:

English (en)
Substance:

pseudohypericin (RF-00003558-PAR)
Analytical method code:

Unspecified (F598A)
Result unit:

Percent (G138A)
Result expression:

Whole weight (B001A)
Result type:

Numerical Value (VAL)
Value (concentration, content):

0.23
Internal remarks:

pseudohypericin

Composition #3: Rietjens, IMCM., Martena, MJ., Boersma, MG., Spiegelenberg, W., Alink, GM. Molecular mechanisms of toxicity of important food-borne phytotoxins. molecular nutrition & food research, 2005, vol. 49, no. 2, p. 131–158. DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.200400078. [DOI link]

Language:

English (en)
Substance:

hypericin (RF-00003434-PAR)
Analytical method code:

Unspecified (F598A)
Result unit:

Percent (G138A)
Result expression:

Whole weight (B001A)
Result type:

Numerical Value (VAL)
Value (concentration, content):

0.09
Internal remarks:

hypericin

Endpoint study #1: Jacobson, JM., Feinman, L., Liebes, L., Ostrow, N., Koslowski, V., Tobia, A., Cabana, BE., Lee, DH., Spritzler, J., Prince, AM. Pharmacokinetics, safety, and antiviral effects of hypericin, a derivative of St. John's Wort plant, in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, 2001, vol. 45, no. 2, p. 517–524. DOI: 10.1128/AAC.45.2.517-524.2001. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Human health
Substance:

hypericin (RF-00003434-PAR)
Type of toxicological test:

acute toxicity (CHD016TT)
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Sex:

No data
Route of exposure:

ORAL: UNSPECIFIED (OECD2234PL)
Exposure duration:

8.0
Unit of exposure duration:

Week (G205A)
Control groups used:

no data
Endpoint measured:

Dose level (CHD014EP)
Concentration unit:

Milligram/kilogram (G061A)
Effect concentration:

0.05-0.1
Critical effect:

Other toxicities (TOX19A)
Target tissue:

Skin/subcutis (TT056A)
Effect description:

hypericin given orally in doses of 0.05 and 0.10 mg/kg/d caused considerable phototoxicity: dermatitis and erythema after sun exposure
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

Phototoxicity (CHD035BE)
Internal remarks:

hypericin given orally in doses of 0.05 and 0.10 mg/kg/d caused considerable phototoxicity: dermatitis and erythema after sun exposure

Endpoint study #2: Rietjens, IMCM., Martena, MJ., Boersma, MG., Spiegelenberg, W., Alink, GM. Molecular mechanisms of toxicity of important food-borne phytotoxins. molecular nutrition & food research, 2005, vol. 49, no. 2, p. 131–158. DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.200400078. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Human health
Substance:

hyperforin (RF-00003433-PAR)
Preparation/Extraction method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Type of toxicological test:

in vitro (CHD061TT)
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Route of exposure:

ORAL: CAPSULE (OECD2228PL)
Exposure duration:

8.0
Unit of exposure duration:

Week (G205A)
Number of organisms dosed:

337
Endpoint measured:

Dose level (CHD014EP)
Concentration unit:

Milligram (G155A)
Effect concentration:

900-1500
Critical effect:

NEUROTOXICITY (TOX04A)
Target tissue:

neurologic: Central Nervous System (TT035A)
Effect description:

inhibit synaptosomal uptake of serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline, interfere with CYP-mediated transformation
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

neurology (CHD027BE)
Internal remarks:

inhibit synaptosomal uptake of serotonin etc.

Endpoint study #3: Caloni, F., Cortinovis, C. Plants poisonous to horses in Europe. equine veterinary education, 2015, vol. 27, no. 5, p. 269–274. DOI: 10.1111/eve.12274. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Animal (target species) health
Substance:

hypericin (RF-00003434-PAR)
Plant part:

Live plants (as part-nature) (A0BA0)
Preparation/Extraction method:

Drying (dehydration) (A07KG)
Additional plant/substance description:

contamination of hey
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Tested organism:

Horse (as animal) (A0B9Z)
Route of exposure:

ORAL: FEED (OECD2230PL)
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

IRRITATION (TOX11A)
Effect description:

phototoxicity, photophobia, scratching
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

Phototoxicity (CHD035BE)
Internal remarks:

phototoxicity - horse

Genotox #1: Qureshi, Shoeb. Studies on the cytological, biochemical and reproductive toxicity of St. Johna's Wort after chronic treatment in swiss albino mice. american-eurasian journal of toxicological sciences, 2013, vol. 97-103, p. 7. .

Study category:

Mutagenicity
Type of toxicological test:

subchronic (CHD013TT)
Method type:

in vivo
Tested organism:

House mouse (as animal) (A0CNT)
Strain of test organism:

Swiss (CHD005ST)
Sex:

Male/Female
Route of exposure:

ORAL: CAPSULE (OECD2228PL)
Exposure duration for in vivo:

90.0
Unit of exposure duration:

Day (G134A)
Number of organisms dosed:

6
Control groups used:

yes
Endpoint measured:

chromosome aberration
Is genotoxic:

Positive
Remarks on genotox study:

changers in chromosome aberations, different sperm, rate of pregnancy, pre-implantation loss
Internal remarks:

mutation, reproduction test
Internal ID:

2014:1316844