Hypericum extract improves depression and quality of life

In the first comparative three arm trial of Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) over eight weeks, Philipp et al (p 1534) showed that the standardised extract STEI 300 was a more effective antidepressant than placebo and at least as effective as imipramine (100 mg daily) in a sample of 263 patients in Germany with moderate depression. Quality of life was improved with the hypericum extract compared with placebo in both mental and physical components of the SF-36. Phytomedicine is therefore an important alternative to tricyclics in patients with moderate depression.