Hyperforin | St. John's Wort Extract

Hyperforin is not a drug, but a natural compound extracted from the St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) plant. Only in the past few years have researchers discovered that hyperforin is the primary compound responsible for the antidepressant effect of St. John's Wort.⁵ Most St. John's Wort extracts contain little or no hyperforin, but the premium extract in AMORYN contains at least 3% hyperforin, the clinically-proven potency.

Hyperforin exhibits significant antidepressant activity.¹ Biochemical research demonstrates that hyperforin - like many prescription antidepressants - inhibits the reuptake of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine.² All three of these compounds are naturally found in the brain and regulate mood and emotion. They are called "neurotransmitters" because they are chemical messengers that transmit information between nerve cells. An imbalance of serotonin, norepinephrine, and/or dopamine can cause depression. By acting as a "reuptake inhibitor", hyperforin increases the levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain, which can improve mood and restore emotional balance.^3,4 Hyperforin also inhibits the reuptake of GABA, a neurotransmitter that increases relaxation and reduces anxiety.

The ability of any St. John's Wort extract to relieve depression depends mainly on its hyperforin content. In other words, only St. John's Wort extracts with significant amounts of hyperforin are effective. This fact was confirmed by a clinical trial, involving 147 patients with depression, which compared placebo to two different St. John's Wort extracts with varying amounts of hyperforin. One extract contained only 0.5% hyperforin, the concentration found in most brands sold in the United States. The other extract was standardized to provide 5% hyperforin, the clinically-proven potency found in AMORYN and pharmaceutical-grade European St. John's Wort. (Aside from hyperforin content, the two extracts were identical. Both extracts were standardized to contain 0.3% hypericin, the compound previously thought to be the active constituent in SJW.) The 5% extract was found to effectively relieve depression, but the 0.5% was ineffective and performed no better than placebo.⁶ This study demonstrates the importance of choosing a St. John's Wort extract that, like AMORYN's, is standardized to contain a high concentration of hyperforin.

An extensive body of research, consisting of over 30 controlled clinical trials, proves the effectiveness of hyperforin-rich St. John's Wort extract for relieving depression.^2,7,8,9,10 Because most studies used extracts containing at least 3% hyperforin, this research does not apply to SJW extracts without a standardized quantity of hyperforin (such as those commonly sold "over-the-counter" in the United States). In fact, a recent study found that hyperforin, in high daily doses, is superior to the prescription drug paroxetine (Paxil®) as a treatment for even severe depression.¹¹

Furthermore, clinical research suggests that adverse side effects occur less frequently with hyperforin than prescription antidepressants.^7,9 For instance, although hyperforin was shown to relieve severe depression at least as well as Paxil®, patients taking hyperforin reported 42% fewer side effects.¹¹ And hyperforin rarely causes weight gain or sexual dysfunction, side effects common with popular prescription drugs. Few natural remedies are backed by as much scientific evidence as hyperforin, so please feel free to review the clinical research for yourself.

Unfortunately, few St. John's wort products contain a standardized amount of hyperforin. You never know what you're getting when you buy a SJW product off the shelf. While some brands contain enough hyperforin to improve mood, most contain little or none. In fact, a recent study tested eight brands sold in the United States and found that only two contained more than 1% hyperforin. In other words, high-quality SJW extracts are proven to be an effective treatment for depression and anxiety, but most SJW products on the market are virtually worthless because they contain very little hyperforin. This fact motivated the scientists at BioNeurix Corporation to develop AMORYN.

AMORYN contains the highest quality St. John's wort extract in the world, standardized to 3-5% hyperforin. AMORYN's pharmaceutical-grade SJW extract is the same one prescribed in Europe for depression and used by researchers in clinical trials. Each dose (two capsules) of "potency assured" AMORYN contains 36mg of hyperforin (from 1200mg of St. John's wort extract with at least 3% hyperforin), so you can be sure that you're receiving the optimal amount.

The graph below shows the results of AMORYN's high hyperforin content and industry-leading quality-control standards: More than three out of four AMORYN users say that AMORYN is superior to other products containing St. John's Wort. Order AMORYN now to harness the healing potential of hyperforin.

(1) Muruganandam AV, Bhattacharya SK, Ghosal S. Antidepressant activity of hyperforin conjugates of the St. John's wort, Hypericum perforatum Linn.: an experimental study. Indian J Exp Biol. 2001 Dec; 39(12):1302-4.
(2) Laakmann G, Jahn G, Schule C. Hypericum perforatum extract in treatment of mild to moderate depression. Clinical and pharmacological aspects. Nervenarzt 2002 Jul;73(7):600-12.
(3) Teufel-Mayer R, Gleitz J. Effects of long-term administration of hypericum extracts on the affinity and density of the central serotonergic 5-HT1 A and 5-HT2 A receptors. Pharmacopsychiatry 1997 Sep;30 Suppl 2:113-6.
(4) Calapai G, Crupi A, Firenzuoli F, et al. Effects of Hypericum perforatum on levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine, noradrenaline and dopamine in the cortex, diencephalon and brainstem of the rat. J Pharm Pharmacol 1999 Jun;51(6):723-8.
(5) Di Carlo G, Borrelli F, Izzo AA, Ernst E. St. John's wort: Prozac from the plant kingdom. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2001 Nov;22(11):557-9.
(6) Laakmann G, Schule C, Baghai T, Kieser M. St. John's wort in mild to moderate depression: the relevance of hyperforin for the clinical efficacy. Pharmacopsychiatry 1998 Jun;31 Suppl 1:54-9.
(7) Gaster B, Holroyd J. St John's wort for depression: a systematic review. Arch Intern Med 2000 Jan 24;160(2):152-6.
(8) Schulz V. Clinical trials with hypericum extracts in patients with depression--results, comparisons, conclusions for therapy with antidepressant drugs. Phytomedicine 2002 Jul;9(5):468-74.
(9) Whiskey E, Werneke U, Taylor D. A systematic review and meta-analysis of Hypericum perforatum in depression: a comprehensive clinical review. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 2001 Sep;16(5):239-52.
(10) Kasper S, Dienel A. Cluster analysis of symptoms during antidepressant treatment with Hypericum extract in mildly to moderately depressed out-patients. A meta-analysis of data from three randomized, placebo-controlled trials. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2002 Nov;164(3):301-8 .
(11) Szegedi A, Kohnen R, Dienel A, Kieser M. Acute treatment of moderate to severe depression with hypericum extract WS 5570 (St John's wort): randomised controlled double blind non-inferiority trial versus paroxetine. British Medical Journal 2005 Feb.

Return to AMORYN ingredients.

TESTIMONIALS | AMORYN Reviews | AMORYN Review

©2005-2010 BioNeurix Corp. | Home | About Us | Privacy & Security | Terms & Conditions of Sale | Contact | Site Map

AMORYN is not a drug and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, dysthymic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or any other disease. AMORYN should not be considered equivalent to or a substitute for an FDA-approved drug. AMORYN and its logo are trademarks of BioNeurix Corp.
Placing an order indicates that you understand and agree to the Terms and Conditions of Sale.

The statements on the amoryn.com website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. AMORYN is a dietary supplement, not a drug. AMORYN is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

The terms "depression", "anxiety" and "panic" found on the amoryn.com website may refer to common emotions and should not be interpreted as referring to medically-recognized diseases. Statements that an ingredient found in AMORYN has been proven in clinical trials to effectively treat a disease do not represent any claim regarding the effects of AMORYN and do not signify that AMORYN itself has been proven to effectively treat that disease.