NCIt definition : The sodium salt form of hypericin, an anthraquinone derivative that is naturally found
in the yellow flower of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) with antidepressant,
potential antiviral, antineoplastic and immunostimulating activities. Hypericin appears
to inhibit the neuronal uptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, gamma-amino
butyric acid (GABA) and L-glutamate, which may contribute to its antidepressant effect.
Hypericin may also prevent the replication of encapsulated viruses probably due to
inhibition of the assembly and shedding of virus particles in infected cells. This
agent also exerts potent phototoxic effects by triggering apoptotic signaling that
results in formation of reactive oxygen species.;
Semantic type(s)