Alcohol and Alcoholism Vol. 34, No. 5, pp. 699-705, 1999
© 1999 Medical Council on Alcoholism
ATTENUATION OF ALCOHOL INTAKE BY EXTRACT OF HYPERICUM PERFORATUM (ST JOHN'S WORT) IN TWO DIFFERENT STRAINS OF ALCOHOL-PREFERRING RATS
The University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, Medical Wing D, CB# 7240, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7240, USA
Received 13 October 1998; first review notified 15 January 1999; accepted 4 March 1999
Extract of the common plant Hypericum perforatum L. (St John's Wort, SJW) has been used successfully for the treatment of mild to moderate depression since ancient times and has recently been studied clinically. Depression and alcoholism have some neurochemical similarities, such as low brain serotonin activities. Thus, we hypothesized that SJW extract, which contains 0.22% hypericin and 4.05% hyperforin, also may be effective in suppressing alcohol intake. To test this hypothesis, the effects of SJW extract on voluntary alcohol intake were studied in two different genetic animal models of human alcoholism: fawn-hooded (FH) and high-alcohol drinking (HAD) rats. FH and HAD rats received a single oral administration (5 ml/kg) of either vehicle or one of the five doses (100, 200, 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg) of SJW extract. The oral administration of SJW extract significantly (P < 0.0001) reduced alcohol intake in both FH and HAD rats. In a third study, FH rats did not develop tolerance to the suppressant effects of SJW on alcohol intake and preference following oral administration of (400 mg/kg) of the extract for 15 consecutive days. These promising findings suggest that SJW extract should be evaluated clinically as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of alcoholism.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  I. T. Uzbay Serotonergic anti-depressants and ethanol withdrawal syndrome: A review Alcohol Alcohol., January 1, 2008; 43(1): 15 - 24. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 U. WERNEKE, T. TURNER, and S. PRIEBE Complementary medicines in psychiatry: Review of effectiveness and safety The British Journal of Psychiatry, February 1, 2006; 188(2): 109 - 121. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Perfumi, L. Mattioli, M. Cucculelli, and M. Massi Reduction of ethanol intake by chronic treatment with Hypericum perforatum, alone or combined with naltrexone in rats J Psychopharmacol, September 1, 2005; 19(5): 448 - 454. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. PERFUMI, L. MATTIOLI, L. FORTI, M. MASSI, and R. CICCOCIOPPO EFFECT OF HYPERICUM PERFORATUM CO2 EXTRACT ON THE MOTIVATIONAL PROPERTIES OF ETHANOL IN ALCOHOL-PREFERRING RATS Alcohol Alcohol., July 1, 2005; 40(4): 291 - 296. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. W. Wright, M. Gott, B. Grayson, A. G. Smith, A. Sunter, J. C. Neill, and M. Hanna Correlation of Hyperforin Content of Hypericum Perforatum(St John's Wort) Extracts with Their Effects On Alcohol Drinking in C57Bl/6J Mice: A Preliminary Study J Psychopharmacol, December 1, 2003; 17(4): 403 - 408. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Perfumi, M. Santoni, R. Ciccocioppo, and M. Massi BLOCKADE OF {gamma}-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID RECEPTORS DOES NOT MODIFY THE INHIBITION OF ETHANOL INTAKE INDUCED BY HYPERICUM PERFORATUM IN RATS Alcohol Alcohol., November 1, 2002; 37(6): 540 - 546. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Perfumi, I. Panocka, R. Ciccocioppo, D. Vitali, R. Froldi, and M. Massi Effects of a methanolic extract and a hyperforin-enriched CO2 extract of Hypericum perforatum on alcohol intake in rats Alcohol Alcohol., May 1, 2001; 36(3): 199 - 206. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|