Hypericum
Hofariqun
Hypericum, commonly known as St. John's Wort, is a versatile flowering plant prized in herbal medicine for centuries. Renowned for its ability to support emotional well-being and alleviate mild depressive symptoms, this resilient perennial offers potent bioactive compounds, making it a cornerstone of natural therapeutic practices worldwide.
- Scientific name: Hypericum
- Family: Hypericaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it follows the order Malpighiales and is a member of the family Hypericaceae. Finally, it is identified under the genus Hypericum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Hypericaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Hypericum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Hypericum, is referred to by various common names across different linguistic regions. In Simplified Chinese contexts, including mainland China and Singapore, it is known as 金丝桃属 (zh-hans, zh-cn, zh-sg), while in Traditional Chinese contexts such as Taiwan and Hong Kong, it is written as 金絲桃屬 (zh-hant, zh-hk).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 金丝桃属 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 金絲桃屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 金絲桃屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 金丝桃属 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 金丝桃属 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 金絲桃屬 | Wikidata |
| pl | dziurawiec | Wikidata |
| udm | Ерофейтурын | Wikidata |
| he | פרע | Wikidata |
| ko | 물레나물속 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing across the landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Additionally, its presence extends to the islands of Føroyar. The species is also well-documented throughout the territory of Great Britain. Finally, its range reaches into the coastal areas of Ireland.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Føroyar | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as St. John's Wort, utilizes its leaves as a primary site for containing the bioactive compounds used in herbal medicine. These small, oval-shaped leaves are often characterized by tiny, translucent oil glands that become visible when held up to the light. When harvested, the leaves contribute significantly to the plant's medicinal potency, providing the essential phytochemicals necessary for its therapeutic applications.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Hypericum has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, hyperforin, hypericin, Hypericin, amentoflavone.
- Total chemicals
- 12
- Scientific sources
- 15
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyperforin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypericin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypericin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| amentoflavone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorogenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypericum extract | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| protohypericin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pseudohypericin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Hypericum has 9 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiviral, Cytotoxic, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antidepressant.
- Total activities
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antiviral | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidepressant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiprotozoal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Hypericum has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antiviral, atopic dermatitis, bruises, hepatitis, injuries.
- Total uses
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 9
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| antiviral | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| atopic dermatitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bruises | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hepatitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| injuries | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| irregular menstruation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| slow wave sleep | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wounds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |