Hypericin is a carbopolycyclic compound derived from bisanthene with

antidepressant Antidepressants are a class of medications used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, and addiction. Common side effects of antidepressants include Xerostomia, dry mouth, weight gain, dizziness, headaches, akathi ...

properties, found in various ''

Hypericum ''Hypericum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Hypericaceae (formerly considered a subfamily of Clusiaceae). The genus has a nearly worldwide distribution, missing only from tropical lowlands, deserts and polar re ...

'' species, and is being studied for treating

cutaneous Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation. Other animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have different d ...

T-cell lymphoma T-cell lymphoma is a rare form of cancerous lymphoma affecting T cell, T-cells. Lymphoma arises mainly from the uncontrolled proliferation of lymphocytes, such as T-cells, and can become cancerous. T-cell lymphoma is categorized under Non-Hodgkin ...

. Opinions differ on the extent to which hypericin exhibits antidepressant effects. According to some scholars, hypericin, along with other active compounds in ''Hypericum perforatum'' (St. John’s wort), contributes to the antidepressant effects of the total plant

extract An extract (essence) is a substance made by extracting a part of a raw material, often by using a solvent such as ethanol, oil or water. Extracts may be sold as tinctures or absolutes or dried and powdered. The aromatic principles of ma ...

. According to others, hypericin does not significantly inhibit monoamine oxidase and thus is unlikely to account for the antidepressant effects of ''Hypericum'' extract. While another hypericin shows affinity mainly for NMDA receptors, suggesting that other plant constituents likely play a more significant role in its antidepressant effects. Hypericin is a structurally complex phenanthroperylene

quinone The quinones are a class of organic compounds that are formally "derived from aromatic compounds benzene.html" ;"title="uch as benzene">uch as benzene or naphthalene] by conversion of an even number of –CH= groups into –C(=O)– groups with ...

with potential Evidence-based medicine, medical and photoreceptive applications. It is red-colored, photosensitive compound whose

biosynthesis Biosynthesis, i.e., chemical synthesis occurring in biological contexts, is a term most often referring to multi-step, enzyme-Catalysis, catalyzed processes where chemical substances absorbed as nutrients (or previously converted through biosynthe ...

is catalyzed by the gene Hyp-1, a Bet v 1-class

allergen An allergen is an otherwise harmless substance that triggers an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals by stimulating an immune response. In technical terms, an allergen is an antigen that is capable of stimulating a type-I hypersensitivi ...

identified through red-color-based colony screening and shown to convert emodin to hypericin with high efficiency. It is thought to be synthesized by the PR-10 protein Hyp-1 through emodin dimerization, but despite confirming Hyp-1’s structure and ligand-binding capability, its

catalytic Catalysis () is the increase in reaction rate, rate of a chemical reaction due to an added substance known as a catalyst (). Catalysts are not consumed by the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst ...

role in hypericin biosynthesis remains unproven. Biotechnological research is exploring ''

in vitro ''In vitro'' (meaning ''in glass'', or ''in the glass'') Research, studies are performed with Cell (biology), cells or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called "test-tube experiments", these studies in ...

'' culture methods to enhance and stabilize the production of hypericin.

References

{{Sigma receptor modulators Virucides Polyketides Polyols Chemicals in Hypericum Biological pigments 3-Hydroxypropenals within hydroxyquinones