Hyperforin - Antidepressant activity by a novel mechanism of action

Hyperforin represents a major antidepressive constituent of St. John's wort (SJW) extract. It not only inhibits the neuronal uptake of serotonin, nore pinephrine and dopamine like many other antidepressants, but also inhibits GABA and L-glutamate uptake. This broad-spectrum effect is obtained by an e levation of the intracellular Na+ concentration, probably due to activation of sodium conductive pathways not yet finally identified but most likely i onic channels. This makes hyperforin the first member of a new class of com pounds with a preclinical antidepressant profile due to a completely novel mechanism of action.