Saint John's Wort - Health Benefits

Immune System

 Saint John’s Wort may help to prevent some types of Cancer due to the Hypericin content of Saint John’s Wort inhibiting the ability of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and Protein Tyrosine Kinase (PTK) to initiate Cancer.  The Hyperforin content of Saint John’s Wort also exerts anti-Cancer effects.  ^[1]  Types of Cancer that Saint John’s Wort may be effective against include:

 Cancer - Breast  ^[2]

 Cancer - Colon   Leukemia^[3]

 Gliomas growth may be inhibited by the Hypericin and Hyperforin content of Saint John’s Wort.  ^[4]

 Saint John’s Wort oil applied topically may alleviate the symptoms, itching and Rash, associated with Chickenpox

 Saint John's Wort may inhibit the growth of many forms of Bacteria - Detrimental primarily due to the Hyperforin content of Saint John’s Wort including:  ^[5]

 Enterococcus  ^[6]

 Escherichia coli  ^[7]

 Mycobacterium tuberculosis  ^[8]

 Pseudomonas aeruginosa  ^[9]

 Shigella

 Staphylococcus aureus  ^[10]

 Saint John’s Wort may suppress Inflammation (primarily due to its Hypericin content).  ^[11]

 Saint John's Wort may suppress or inhibit some types of Viruses (mainly Retroviruses):  ^[12]

 Saint John's Wort may possess anti-viral activity against Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (by suppressing the HIV virus) (due to the Hypericin and Pseudohypericin components of Saint John’s Wort) however, in clinical human trials the use of Saint John's Wort has not produced the same effects due to the Hypericin content of Saint John's Wort being too low.  ^[13]

            Saint John’s Wort should not be used by AIDS patients who are using the anti-HIV drug, Indinavir (as Saint John’s Wort reduces the effectiveness of Indinavir).  ^[14]

 Saint John's Wort may inhibit the Virus that causes Hepatitis B.  ^[15]

 Saint John's Wort oil or cream applied topically may alleviate the lesions associated with the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 The Hypericin content of Saint John’s Wort exerts anti-viral activity against the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1.  ^[16]

 Saint John’s Wort inhibits the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 due to its Hypericin content.  ^[17]

Metabolism

 Saint John’s Wort possesses Antioxidants properties.  ^[18]