The Emerging Recognition of Herb-Drug Interactions With a Focus on St. John’s Wort (Hypericum Perforatum)

The use of herbal medications and other alternative therapies is accelerating. Survey data clearly indicate that these agents are frequently combined with prescription and over-the-counter medications. The herbal antidepressant St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is one of the most commonly utilized herbal agents. In spite of growing concern and examples of herb-drug interactions, little systematic research has been published or funded in this area. Computerized searches of the biomedical literature were undertaken utilizing MEDLINE, Current Contents, and PsycINFO computer databases (years 1966-December 2000) and by review of bibliographies to identify all pertinent case reports, case series, and formal…