Guest guest Posted March 3, 2008 Report Share Posted March 3, 2008 I have plenty of info Heidi, if you want I can send to all or can send to you privately. . Just to give you something to start with: Hypericin: the active ingredient in Saint ’s Wort Abstract by A.Y. Oubre Hypericin, a photochemical extracted from St. s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) and related species, has been shown to have potent, broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. This compound is an aromatic polycyclic anthrone, a class of colored or pigmented chemical substances which have photosensitizing activity. In both in vitro (laboratory) and in vivo (animal) studies, low, non-toxic doses of hypericin significantly inhibited the replication of several viruses, including HIV, influenza A, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Herpes simplex 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Hypericin and its chemical relative, pseudohypericin, produce antiviral activity through a different mechanism of action than do AZT and other nucleoside antiviral agents. Hypericin does not appear to directly alter the activity of reverse transcriptase although it does block the formation of HIV synctium. Recent findings have shown that the antiretroviral action of this compound disrupts uncoating of the lipid envelope of both DNA and RNA viruses, thus preventing infected cells from releasing HIV copies. Theoretically, hypericin and AZT, in combination, may have synergistic antiviral effects against HIV. On the other hand, hypericin actually may increase the toxicity of antiretroviral nucleosides such as AZT, ddI, or ddC. Traditionally, extracts of St. s Wort (which contain hypericin) have been used as an antidepressant, possibly by acting as a MAO inhibitor. The psychotropic effects attributed to hypericin in St. s Wort extract suggest that the pigment compound can cross the blood brain barrier (possibly treating neuropsychological symptoms such as dementia). Laboratory investigations indicate that hypericin may be beneficial as an HIV therapy. However, its administration should be carefully monitored by a physician. The levels of hypericin found in most commercially available extracts of St. s Wort generally are not sufficient to be therapeutically effective against viral infections. Liver function should be tested periodically in persons taking hypericin. Also, extreme photosensitivity has been observed in a few cases of people taking this high doses (in excess of 10 mg per day) of this compound. Finally, there is a very small possibility that adverse reactions could occur on occasion between hypericin and other foods or drugs which interfere with MAO inhibitors. Active principles in St. s Wort The quantity and quality of active principles in Hypericin species vary according to geographical locale, climate, time of day, and time of year. St. s Wort contains dianthrone derivatives, mainly in the form of hypericin and pseudo-hypericin 7, 32, 33 as well as flavonoids 8, 15. Small amounts of coumarins 7, phenolic carboxylic compounds, 7 phloroglucinol derivatives 17, monoterpenes, 7, sesquiterpenes 7, n-alkanes 9, n-alkanols 10, carotenoids 11, and beta-sitosterol 12 are present. The roots contain zanthones 16. Practitioners and consumers should note that St. s Wort extracts, whether standardized or not, consist of other active ingredients in addition to hypericin and pseudohypericin. Pre-clinical studies Both in-vitro (test tube) and in-vivo (animal) pre-clinical studies suggest that hypericin (and, to a lesser extent, pseudo-hypericin) may have therapeutic benefits for HIV infection and other retroviral diseases. Certain compounds other than hypericin extracted from Hypericum species have antibiotic activity 41, 42, 43. marked antiretroviral effects, however, have been reported primarily for hypericin 28, 29, 37, 45, 49, 50, 51, 52 which is isolated mainly from Hypericum perforatum. However, synthetic hypericin has been used in recent studies. In in-vitro and in-vivo studies, both hypericin and pseudohypericin (extracted from Hypericum triquetifolium) had antiviral activity against several retroviruses 28. In one experiment, mice were simultaneously injected with low doses of the compounds and with Friend leukemia virus (FV). This aggressive retrovirus normally causes rapid splenomegaly (swelling of the spleen) and acute erythroleukemia in mice. However, these symptoms were effectively suppressed by the addition of hypericin. Splenomegaly had not occurred ten days after infection at the close of the study. No infectious virus could be recovered from the spleen. Also, viremia normally associated with FV was absent. Mice treated with hypericin and pseudohypericin survived a much longer time than mice treated with a toxic antiviral (N3dthd). Unlike most antiretroviral drugs, hypericin (given in a single dose of low concentration) was effective without being cytotoxic. Even when it was administered after viral infection had already started, it still inhibited the onset of disease 28. In in-vitro studies, mouse cell lines were infected with radiation leukemia virus (Rad LV) and then incubated with hypericin. The activity of reverse transcriptase in these cells was suppressed through indirect mechanisms. In contrast to nucleoside analogues, polycyclic diones such as hypericin interfere directly with the viral replication cycle during stages in which virions are assembled or intact virions are shedded from immature cores. Alternatively, these aromatic compounds may directly inactivate mature retrovirus that contains normal, assembled cores. Other findings indicate that hypericin is able to inactivate virions and block viral release from infected cells by interacting with the cell membrane 28. Unpublished data show that hypericin disrupts the formation of synctia in HIV disease as well as in de novo infection of cells 39. In in-vitro studies, hypericin showed selective activity against HIV and modest inhibition of reverse transcriptase 31. In vitro research also revealed that hypericin lowered viral activity in whole human blood taken from HIV infected persons 26, 29. “Wild” strains of HIV taken directly from infected patients are sometimes more resistant to antiviral agents than are viral strains bred in the laboratory 51. Other investigations indicate that the antiviral effects of hypericin on murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV), Sindbus virus (SV), and HIV are enhanced by exposure to fluorescent light 37. Hypericin and to some degree, pseudohypericin, were effective against FV and HSV-1 when the viruses were first incubated with the compounds for one hour at 37 degrees C before mice were infected 31. Pre-incubation for one hour at 4 degrees C, however, produced no antiviral effects. The authors of this study (who are scientists at Lilly Research Laboratories) reported that hypericin and pseudohypericin were effective in vitro against enveloped viruses such as HSV and influenza when the cultures were pre-incubated with these agents at 37 degrees C. They also correctly showed that hypericin and its analogue inhibit DNA and RNA viruses, but not viruses which lack a lipid envelope. The Lilly researchers, who call AZT a preferred therapy for HIV, however, claim that single dose administration of hypericin is not efficacious. Human clinical trials are needed to evaluate the appropriate dose ranges at which hypericin is therapeutic but nontoxic, and to assess the differences, if any, between natural and synthetic hypericins. In animal studies, natural sources of hypericin (in combination with its analogue, pseudohypericin), showed greater antiviral activity that did synthetic hypericin 51. Preliminary findings thus far strongly indicate that the wide spectrum antiviral properties of hypericin, its experimental effectiveness at low concentrations, and its unconventional mechanisms of antiviral action make it a promising candidate for a new class of HIV therapies. Mechanisms of action Hypericin and pseudohypericin had no effect on purified reverse transcriptase alone. They did not alter levels of intracellular viral mRNA. Instead, hypericin lowers the number of mature viral particles without suppressing intracellular levels of viral mRNA. The concentrations of viral antigens on the cell surface were also unaffected by hypericin. These findings, as a whole, imply that the compounds interfere with viral assembly, budding, shedding or stability at the level of the cell 39 membrane When hypericin was added to viral-infected cell cultures, red fluorescence appeared at localized areas on the lipid surface membrane 39. Unlike nucleoside analogues, polycyclic diones such as hypericin have no effects on transcription, translation, or transport of viral proteins to the cell membrane. They are not directly active against reverse transcriptase even though reverse transcriptase activity was reduced in infected cells that had first been incubated with hypericin. Cells treated with hypericin form immature or abnormally assembled cores. This indicates that hypericin may block the processing of gag-encoded precursor polypeptides 39. Hypericin, whether in the intracellular medium or bounded to the membrane, is thought to lower the activity of reverse transcriptase by interfering with protein synthesis 28, 39. (It is noteworthy that the antiviral effects of harmine, a photoactive alkaloid, involve disrupted kinase activity in enveloped RNA viruses 47.) Viral particles are not formed when gag-related polyproteins fail to be cleaved or synthesized. Gag-related polyproteins, therefore, may play a decisive role in the virucidal actions of hypericin. Reverse transcriptase within the core of the assembled virus probably takes the form of an inactive enzyme or proenzyme. Mechanisms involving viral-encoded proteases or kinases might be required to activate reverse transcriptase. These mechanisms could transform the enzyme from a nonfunctional to a functional state. Both hypericin and pseudohypericin are thought to influence protease activity. In turn, altered protease activity could disrupt the cleavage or synthesis of gag-related polyproteins. As a result, immature viral cores would be formed. Alternatively, by selectively binding to viral polyproteins, hypericin could interfere with the gag and gag-pol polyproteins needed for viral assembly. Thus, hypericin could block the process whereby RNA packages encapsulated viral particles 39. Some investigators, however, propose that hypericin lyses infectious virion by interacting directly with the viral envelope instead of disrupting gag-encoded precursor polyproteins or modifying other proteins 31. In any case, the antiviral properties of hypericin appear to involve its interactions with the cell membrane or cell surface recognition sites 26. Molecular modifications at or near the surface provide a model for rationally designing a new class of anti-HIV agents. Such therapies may be able to block HIV-encoded protease located in the gag-pol region. Importantly, drugs of this type would not be toxic like AZT and other agents whose pharmacological actions are based on direct inhibition of reverse transcriptase. The aromatic, ringed structure encircled by six phenolic hydroxy groups seems critical to the antiviral activity of the hypericin molecule 39. Quinone groups, which often have antiviral properties, also exert photodynamic effects. Hypericin is thought to generate singlet oxygen. However, free radical quenchers can interfere with singlet oxygen reactions involving hypericin thereby reducing its antiviral properties 35, 37. Hypericin has a unique molecular structure in which one-half of the molecule is hydrophilic (water loving) while the other half is hydrophobic (water repelling). The top, bottom and side (non-polar) of the hypericin molecule which contains the methyl groups are hydrophobic. It is thought that the molecule might bond to the outer surface of the cell membrane. Presumably, the hydrophobic side would be immersed in fat Singlet oxygen, though less reactive than triplet oxygen, binds with two-electron targets, including, for example, the double bonds found in polyunsaturated fatty acids. The hydrophilic sides, in contrast, could hydrogen-bond to the aqueous media 48. Discrepancies between in vivo findings from different studies on the antiretroviral effects of hypericin and pseudo-hypericin may be due partly to variations in light 37. However, differences in hypericin isolation methods and in the strains of mice used also could account for variable findings in several investigations. The antiviral effects of hypericin are largely but not completely, attributed to its photodynamic properties 35, 37, 44. In the presence of light, hypericin completely inhibited infection of cell cultures of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) 44. On exposure to fluorescent light, hypericin inactivated MCMV, Sindbis virus (SV), and HIV-1 37. Both membrane virions and virus-infected cells were more strongly inactivated by visible light 37. (Polyacetylene phenylheptatriyine (PHY), a substance purified from the plant, Bidens pilosa, also shows antiviral activity against membrane-bound viruses such as MCMV. The antiviral effects, which involved interactions between PHY and membrane, occurred in the presence of long wave ultraviolet light 46). Significant advances in photobiological research have been made in recent years. New findings demonstrate clearly that photodynamic action accounts for the antiviral properties of several natural product derivatives, including hypericin. Light is required for the photosensitization of hypericin. The compound absorbs light quanta and generates it in the form of singlet oxygen 35, 37. In so doing, hypericin triggers the photo-oxidation of cellular components, including, for example, the photohemolysis of red blood cells 35. The underlying mechanism of photodynamic reactions is not fully understood. It is thought to involve interactions between oxygen and light as well as sensitizing pigment which binds to the cell membrane 35, 37. In photodynamic reactions mediated by hypericin, singlet oxygen serves as the main oxidant. Singlet oxygen has a strong affinity for pi electron-systems found in compounds such as polycyclic diones. The pi electrons, responsible for the photoactive properties of hypericin, absorb visible and ultraviolet light and then reemit it within the range of green and red light. The two hydroxy groups and the two methyl groups flanking each side of hypericin’s eight ringed structure do not lie within the same plane. Instead, they repel each other, placing strain on the benzenoid structure. This causes the hypericin molecule to twist and become unstable. Hypothetically, the steric strain could increase the energy state of the pi electrons. This would allow them to form temporary bonds with singlet oxygen which, at a later point, could be released to disrupt mechanisms of viral replication 48. Pi electrons therefore, seem to play a major role in the antiviral activity of hypericin. The “impressive light-mediated antiviral activities” of hypericin have been shown in several studies 35, 37, 45. Sindbus virus (SV), for example, was 99% inhibited in the presence of light. In the dark, however, the antiviral effects of hypericin were reduced by more than two orders of magnitude 45. On exposure to light (650-700nm.), hypericin undergoes type II photosensitization in which singlet oxygen and other reactive molecular species are produced. Though not as destructive as free radicals (which are generated in Type I photosensitization 35, singlet oxygen could damage viral membranes, thereby interfering with proteins and nucleic acids. Nonetheless, hypericin also has some degree of virucidal activity in the dark, though much less so than in light 37. It is thought that the antiviral effects produced in the absence of light take place through a different mode of action than light-mediated virucidal activity 37. Protein kinase C, for example, may represent an alternative target for hypericin’s antiviral action in the absence of light 40. One of the therapeutic advantages of hypericin is that it works by multiple steps 36. Hypericin is probably able to interrupt various phases in the replication of enveloped retroviruses. These stages include polyprotein cleavage and protein alterations as well as assembly, budding and shedding of viral components. The compound’s disadvantages as an anti-HIV agent involve its potential toxicity when patients are exposed to sunlight. Also, it has been reported that in humans, hypericin is more effective in suppressing HSV-1 and HSV-2 than HIV. Future research is required to elucidate the mechanisms through which hypericin generates and reacts with singlet oxygen in triggering antiviral effects. Dosage Clinical trials currently being conducted by Dr. Bihari in New York City recommend the following regimen. For the first two weeks, patients take one 10 mg. capsule once a day for two weeks. During the second two weeks, the dosage alternates between one 10 mg. capsule per day on the first day, two 10 mg. capsules on the second day, one 10 mg. capsule on the third day, and so forth. The ultimate dosage is given during the fifth and sixth weeks when patients are given two 10 mg. capsules per day. Future regimens for optimal dosage are presently being devised by researchers and clinicians involved in pilot trials of hypericin for the treatment of HIV. It has been proposed that beta-carotene, a known free radical quencher, be administered in combination with hypericin. Theoretically, this might reduce any toxic side-effects associated with hypericin’s generation of free radicals. Some investigators, however, have warned that quenchers also may lessen the anti-viral properties of hypericin. The role of beta-carotene and other free-radical scavengers in hypericin therapy deserves further clarification. Conclusions Hypericin, a pigment molecule with photodynamic activity, has dramatic antiviral activity, especially in the presence of light. Like several other plant derived substances, hypericin only inhibits viruses with membranes. It has antiviral effects against a wide range of retroviruses, including HSV-1, HSV-2, (murine) CMV, and HIV-1. In contrast to nucleoside agents such as AZT, hypericin and its chemical relative, pseudohypericin, do not directly affect the activity of reverse transcriptase. Rather, these agents seem to disrupt various stages of viral replication, including assembly, budding, shedding and possibly protein synthesis, all of which depend on the integrity of the viral membrane. Hypericin and related compounds, with their alternative targets for virucidal activity, comprise a new class of potential anti-HIV drugs. It is not yet known how effective hypericin will be in human AIDS. Preliminary findings, however, strongly suggest that this compound is one of the most promising, new anti-HIV prototype molecules currently under investigation. References [1] Hobbs, C. 1988/1989 St. s Wort—Hypericum perforatum L. Herbal Gram No.18/19 Fall 1988/Winter 1989 pp. 24-33 [2] Fernie, W.T. 1897 Herbal Simples. Bristol: and Co. [3] Vickery, A.R. 1981 Traditional uses and folklore of Hypericum in the British Isles. Econ Bot. 35:289-295 [4] Gunther, R.T. 1933 The Greek Herbal of Dioscorides. Hafner Pub Co. (1968) [5] Green, T. 1924 The Universal Herbal. London: Caxton Press [6] King, J. 1876 The American Dispensatory, 10th ed. Cincinnati: Wilstach, Baldwin and Co. [7] Brockman, H. et al. 1974 Zur isolierung und konstitution des pseudohypericins. Tetrahedron Lett. 23:1991-4 [8] Dorossiev, I. 1985 Determination of flavonoids in Hypericum perforatum. Pharmazie. 2:157-171 [9] Brondz, I. et al. 1983 n-Alkanes of Hypericum perforatum: a revision. Phytochem. 3:377-8 [10] Brondz, I. and Greibrokk, T. 1983 n-l-alkanols of Hypericum perforatum. J. Nat. Prod. 46:9404 [11] Costes, C. and Chantal, T. 1967 Carotenoid pigments of the petals of the inflorescence of St. ’s-Wort (Hypericum perforatum). Ann Physiol Veg. 9:157-177 (CA 68:66335y) [12] Mathis, C. and Ourisson, G. 1964 Etude Chimio-taxonique du genre Hypericum—V. Phytochem. 3(3):379 [Abstract] [13] Suzuki, O. et al. 1981 Inhibition of type A and type B monoamine oxidases by naturally occuring xanthones. Planta Medica. 42:17-21 [14] Okpanyi, S.N. and Weischer, M.L. 1987 Animal experiments on the psychotropic activity of a Hypericum extract. Arzneim-Forsch. 37(1):10-13 [Abstract] [15] Kitanov, G. 1983 Determination of the absolute configuration of catechins isolated from Hypericum perforatum. Farmatsiya (Sofia). 33:19-22 (CA 99:50290j) [16] Nielsen, H. and Arends, P. 1978 Structure of the xanthonolignoid kielcorin. Phytochem. 17(11):2040-2041 [Abstract] [17] Brondz, I. et al 1983 The absolute configuration of hyperforin, an antibiotic from Hypericum perforatum L. based on the crystal structure determination of its p-bromobenzoate ester. Acta Chem Scan. Ser. A. A37:263-5 [18] Willis, W.C. 1973 A Dictionary of the Flowering Plants and Ferns, 8th ed. Cambridge at the Univ. Press [19] Mabberley, D.J. 1987 The Plant Book. Cambridge Univ. Press [20] Indian Council of Medical Research 1987 Medicinal Plants of India, Vol. 2 New Delhi [21] , L.M. 1980 Medicinal Plants of East and South East Asia. Cambridge/London: MIT Press [22] Duke, J.A. and Ayensu, E.S. 1985 Medicinal Plants of China, Vol. 2 Algoniac, MI: Ref. Publications [24] Oubre, A.Y. 1989 A cross-cultural analysis of medicinal flora: a methodology for determining pharmacological efficacy. (Unpub. paper: Dept. of Integrative Biology, U.C. Berkeley) [25] Oubre, A.Y. 1988 Ethnopharmacology and Plant Drug Research. San Francisco: Washington Research Institute [26] Liebes, L. et al. 1991 A method for the quantitation of hypericin, an antiviral agent in biological fluids by high performance liquid chromatography. Analytical Biochem. 195:77-85 [27] Schinazi, R.F. et al. 1990 Anthraquinones as a new class of antiviral agents against human immunodeficiency virus. Antiviral Research. 13(5):265-272 [Abstract] [28] Meruelo, D. et al. 1988 Therapeutic agents with dramatic antiretroviral activity and little toxicity at effective doses: Aromatic polycyclic diones hypericin and pseudohypericin. Proc. Natl Acad Sci USA. 85(14):5230-5234 [Abstract] [29] Valentine, F.T. 1991 Hypericin: A hexahydroxyl dimethyl-napthodiantrone with activity against HIV in vitro and against murine retroviruses in vivo (Ab). JAIDS. 4(3):317 [30] Degar, S. et al. 1991 Inhibition of HIV infectivity by hypericin: Evidence for a block in capsid uncoating. JAIDS. 4(3) (pg. no. missing) [31] Tang, J. 1990 Virucidal activity of hypericin against enveloped and non-enveloped DNA and RNA viruses. Antiviral Research. 13(6):313-325 [Abstract] [32] Brockman, H. et al. 1957 Total synthese des hypericins. Chem Ber. 90:2302-2318 [33] Brockman, H. et al. 1939 Hypericin, the photodynamically active pigment from Hypericum perforatum. Naturwiss. 27:550-555 [34] , K. 1949 Further communication on the photodynamic substance hypericin. Hippokrates. 20:530-536 [35] Duran, N. and Song, P. 1986 Hypericin and its photodynamic action. Photochem Photobio. 43(6):677-680 [36] Yarchoan, R. et al. 1990 Immunological issues in anti-retroviral therapy. Immunology Today. 11(9):327-333 [Abstract] [37] Hudson, J.B. et al. 1991 Antiviral activities of hypericin. Antiviral Research. 15(2):101-112 [Abstract] [38] Lavie, G. et al. 1990 ls NY Acad Sciences. 616:556-562 [39] Lavie, G. et al 1989 Studies of the mechanisms of action of the antiretroviral agents hypericin and pseudohypericin. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 86(15):5963-5967 [Abstract] [40] Takahashi, I. et al. 1989 Hypericin and pseudohypericin specifically inhibit protein kinase C: possible relation to their anteretroviral activity. Biochem and Biophys Research Communications. 165(3):1207-1212 [Abstract] [41] Zheng, M.S. 1989 An experimental study of the anti-HSV II action of 500 herbal drugs. J Trad Chin Med. 9(2):113-6 [Abstract] [42] Jayasuriya, H. et al. 1989 Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of rottlerin-type compounds from Hypericum drummondii. J Nat Prod. 52(2):325-31 [Abstract] [43] Ishiguro, K. et al. 1987 Saroaspidin A, B and C: additional antibiotic compounds from Hypericum japonicum. Planta Medica. 53(5):415-417 [44] Carpenter, S. and Kraus, G.A. 1991 Photosensitization is required for inactivation of equine infectious anemia virus by hypericin. Photochem Photobio. 53(2):169-74 [Abstract] [45] Kraus, G.A. 1990 Antiretroviral activity of synthetic hypericin and related analogues. Biochem and Biophys Research Comm. 172(1):149-53 [Abstract] [46] Hudson, J.B. et al. 1986 Investigation of the antiviral action of the photoactive compound phenylheptatriyne. Photochem Photobio. 43(1):27-33 [47] Hudson, J.B. et al. 1986 Antiviral effect of harmine, a photoactive beta-carboline alkaloid. Photochem Photobio. 43(1):21-26 [48] Gerhardt, J.J. and Fowkes, S.W. 1991 Hypericin Forefront. Palo Alto: MegaHealth Society 6(6):1-5 [49] Lavie, D. 1987 Antiviral pharmaceutical compositions containing hypericin or pseudohypericin European Patent Application No. 87111467.4 filed 8/8/87 European Patent Office Publication No. 0 256-452-A2 [50] , J.S. 1989 Hypericin/St. ’s Wort: Experience So Far. AIDS Treatment News #74 [Full text] [51] , J.S. 1991 Hypericin Update. AIDS Treatment News #125 [Full text] [52] Meruelo, D. et al. 1991 Inactivation of retroviral particles by hypericin: possible role of oxidative reactions in the antiretroviral activity (Abstract 1-29). HIV Disease: Pathogenesis and therapy Univ. Miami: March 1991 [53] Wood, S. et al. 1990 Antiviral activity of naturally occuring anthraquinones and anthraquinone derivatives. Planta Medica—Journal of Plant Research. 56(6):651-652 [54] Dr. Bihari 1991 Pers. Comm. New York City [55] Wingrove, A.S. and Caret, R.L. 1981 Organic Chemistry. Cambridge: Harper and Row Photochem Photobiol. 1991 Feb;53(2):169-74. Related Articles, Links Photosensitization is required for inactivation of equine infectious anemia virus by hypericin. Carpenter S, Kraus GA. Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames 50011. Hypericin, a photoreactive polycyclic quinone, was found to dramatically reduce infectivity of cell-free stocks of equine infectious anemia virus. However, the antiviral activity of hypericin was completely dependent on the presence of light. Short periods of photosensitization resulted in a partial loss of reverse transcriptase activity and complete inhibition of viral infectivity. These results suggest that the photodynamic effect of hypericin interferes with more than one stage in the virus replication cycle. PMID: 1707176 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Immunol Today. 1990 Sep;11(9):327-33. Related Articles, Links Immunologic issues in anti-retroviral therapy. Yarchoan R, Mitsuya H, Broder S. National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892. A number of drugs acting at different stages of viral replication have been shown to be effective anti-HIV agents in the laboratory, and several have been found to be active in patients. It has become evident that inhibition of viral replication in HIV-infected patients will result in an improvement in their immune function. However, as Yarchoan, Hiroaki Mitsuya and Broder point out, complete immunoreconstitution generally does not occur in patients with established AIDS using currently available therapies. It is important to understand the factors that limit immunologic improvement in such patients so that more effective therapy can be devised. Publication Types: · Review PMID: 1698379 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Antiviral activities of hypericin J. B. Hudsona, I. -Bazzocchib and G. H. N. Towersb a Division of Medical Microbiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada b Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada Received 19 July 1990; accepted 15 October 1990. Available online 12 November 2002. Abstract Hypericin, a photodynamic plant quinone, readily inactivated murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV), Sindbis virus, and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), especially on exposure to fluorescent light. Sindbis virus was significantly more sensitive than MCMV. The inactivated MCMV, when used to infect cells, was incapable of synthesizing early or late viral antigens. In addition to this direct virucidal effect, when hypericin was added to cells infected with viable MCMV, inhibition was also observed, particularly when the compound was added in the first two hours of infection. Again the antiviral effect was augmented by visible light. At effective antiviral concentrations, there were no discernible adverse effects on cultured cells. Thus hypericin appears to have two modes of antiviral activity: one directed at the virions, possibly on membrane components (although other virion targets cannot be ruled out), and the other directed at virus-infected cells. Both activities are substantially enhanced by light. Other recent studies on the antiviral activities of hypericin have not considered the role of light, and it is conceivable that apparent discrepancies between their results may have reflected different conditions of light exposure. Author Keywords: Hypericin; Photosensitization J Tradit Chin Med. 1989 Jun;9(2):113-6. Related Articles, Links An experimental study of the anti-HSV-II action of 500 herbal drugs. Zheng MS. Experimental assessments were made on the anti-HSV-II action of 500 herbs by determinations of the virus inhibition logarithm (VIL). 13 highly effective herbs (VIL greater than or equal to 4.00) were screened cut, providing a rational basis for clinical therapy. Among these effective herbs, 10 were aqueous extracts of Artemisia anomala, Centella asiatica, Epimedium Sagittatum, Hibiscus mutabilis, Hosta plantaginea, Hypericum japonicum, Inula japonica, Mosla punctata, Rhododendron simsii, and Rhus chinenses, while 3 were alcohol extracts of Epimedium Sagittatum, Hypericum japonicum, and Mosla punctata. PMID: 2550706 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Arzneimittelforschung. 1987 Jan;37(1):10-3. Related Articles, Links [Animal experiments on the psychotropic action of a Hypericum extract] [Article in German] Okpanyi SN, Weischer ML. Extracts of Hypericum perforatum (Psychotonin M) (St. 's wort) with known concentrations of hypericin were tested in several models generally accepted as screening methods in experimental animal studies for the recognition of psychotropic, and in particular of antidepressant activity. Hypericum extract enhanced the exploratory activity of mice in a foreign environment, significantly prolonged the narcotic sleeping time dose-dependently, and within a narrow dose range exhibited reserpine antagonism. Similar to most other antidepressants, hypericum extract enhanced significantly the activity of mice in the water wheel test and after a prolonged daily administration decreased aggressiveness in socially isolated male mice. The presented data in addition to the already proven clinical efficacy justify the use of standardised Hypericum extract in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. PMID: 3566850 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Antiviral Res. 1990 Jun;13(6):313-25. Related Articles, Links Virucidal activity of hypericin against enveloped and non-enveloped DNA and RNA viruses. Tang J, Colacino JM, Larsen SH, Spitzer W. Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, IN 46285. Hypericin is a polycyclic anthrone first isolated from the plant St. s wort and was shown to have dramatic anti-retroviral activity against Friend leukemia virus and radiation leukemia virus in mice. Hypericin displayed marginal activity (IC50 = 6 micrograms/ml) against Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MuLV) in vitro. Hypericin did not display selective antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus, influenza A, adenovirus, or poliovirus. The 50% cytotoxic concentration was approximately 25 micrograms/ml. When virus was incubated with hypericin before infecting cells, the drug was virucidal to all enveloped viruses tested (herpes simplex, influenza virus A, and Mo-MuLV) at concentrations of 1.56 micrograms/ml to 25 micrograms/ml. Hypericin was not virucidal to the non-enveloped viruses tested (adenovirus and poliovirus). These data indicate that the mechanism of viral inactivation for hypericin is dependent upon the presence of a viral lipid envelope. In vivo, hypericin (50 mg/ml) was effective against FLV or HSV-1 if incubated with the virus for 1 h at 37 degrees C before infecting mice, but was not effective if pre-incubated with virus for 1 h at 4 degrees C or if administered concurrently with virus. PMID: 1699494 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Studies of the mechanisms of action of the antiretroviral agents hypericin and pseudohypericin. Lavie G, Valentine F, Levin B, Mazur Y, Gallo G, Lavie D, Weiner D, Meruelo D. Department of Pathology, Kaplan Cancer Center, New York University Medical Center, NY 10016. Administration of the aromatic polycyclic dione compounds hypericin or pseudohypericin to experimental animals provides protection from disease induced by retroviruses that give rise to acute, as well as slowly progressive, diseases. For example, survival from Friend virus-induced leukemia is significantly prolonged by both compounds, with hypericin showing the greater potency. Viremia induced by LP-BM5 murine immunodeficiency virus is markedly suppressed after infrequent dosage of either substance. These compounds affect the retroviral infection and replication cycle at least at two different points: (i) Assembly or processing of intact virions from infected cells was shown to be affected by hypericin. Electron microscopy of hypericin-treated, virus-producing cells revealed the production of particles containing immature or abnormally assembled cores, suggesting the compounds may interfere with processing of gag-encoded precursor polyproteins. The released virions contain no detectable activity of reverse transcriptase. (ii) Hypericin and pseudohypericin also directly inactivate mature and properly assembled retroviruses as determined by assays for reverse transcriptase and infectivity. Accumulating data from our laboratories suggest that these compounds inhibit retroviruses by unconventional mechanisms and that the potential therapeutic value of hypericin and pseudohypericin should be explored in diseases such as AIDS. PMID: 2548193 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Antiretroviral activity of synthetic hypericin and related analogs A. Kraus*, Dan Pratt*, Tossberg# and Carpenter# *Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011, USA #Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011, USA Received 8 August 1990. Available online 22 April 2005. Hypericin and pseudohypericin are naturally occurring polycyclic quinones which have recently been shown to inhibit the infectivity of several retroviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus. To better understand the antiviral mechanisms of these compounds, hypericin and a series of analogous quinones were synthesized and tested for anti-retroviral activity against equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). Treatment of EIAV-infected cells with hypericin reduced the production of infectious virus by 99.99%. None of the analogs were found to inhibit virus replication. These results suggest that the complete ring structure of hypericin is required, but not sufficient, for antiviral activity From: BorreliaMultipleInfectionsAndAutism [mailto:BorreliaMultipleInfectionsAndAutism ] On Behalf Of Ambitionn01@... Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 3:41 PM To: BorreliaMultipleInfectionsAndAutism Subject: Re: Antibiotics = Mycotoxins/What to do about it. This is interesting about the St. 's Wart. I will have to do some research into it. Heidi N From : " So the first thing I did was to fix my son ability to detox alkaloids, in one of my traveling around the world for help and I found the power of natural red clay to absorb all kind of toxic substances in the gut and the herbs saint johns worth to turn on the p450 and also is a retroviral antivirus, in fact it's so strong that it is replacing the cocktail for AIDS patients and can get rid of herpes viruses 10 times better and safer than Valtrex! That's right, if you think that stuff is the way to go...SJW it's 10 times more effective, and I did it with great success with my son and never touched Valtrex or antifungal drugs " Supercharge your AIM. Get the AIM toolbar for your browser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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