Effects of the Total Extract and Fractions of Hypericum perforatum in Animal Assays for Antidepressant Activity

A commercially available extract of the aerial parts of Hypericum perforatum, LI 160, showed pronounced activity in selected animal bioassays. These include the forced swimming test (FST) and the tail suspension test, used to determine antidepressant activity, and tests indicating activity on the central nervous system, such as body temperature and ketamine induced sleeping time. The counteracting effects of drugs known to interfere with the central dopaminergic system strongly suggested that dopamine mediated activity is important for the activity of the extract. Dose-response experiments of the total extract and of fractions rich in flavonoids and napthodianthrones produced inverted U-shaped dose response curves.