Pilot Study Finds Low-Hyperforin St. John's Wort Extract Does Not Interact with Oral Contraceptive

摘要

St. John's wort (SJW, Hypericum perforatum, Clusiaceae) is widely used in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Previous studies have demonstrated that SJW interferes with the metabolism of certain drugs when they are taken at the same time. SJW formulations can vary considerably in composition and dosage, and this variability may produce different effects on drug-metabolizing enzymes. SJW may interact with hormones found in oral contraceptives, and this interaction could diminish the effectiveness of the contraceptives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of SJW extract Ze 117 (Zeller AG; Romanshorn, Switzerland)—standardized to contain a low content of hyperforin—on the pharmacokinetics of 2 hormones after the administration of oral contraceptives.