St John’s Wort

In Turkey, Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John’s wort) can be found across Marmara, Black Sea, Aegean, Central and Eastern Anatolia, Mediterranean and Southeastern Anatolia Regions.

St Jon’s Wort is known locally as ‘’ , bin bir delik otu, kanotu, kılıç otu, koyun kıran, kuzu kıran, mayasıl otu ve yara out’’

St. John’s Wort extract has been used for a long time to treat, cuts, abrasions, and other similar wounds. The effectiveness of SJW as an antidepression agent is particularly well studied and in recent years it has become a widely used medical plant in the world.

It has been used in the treatment of cancer, diabetes, chronic rheumatism, stomach ulcer, gastrointestinal diseases, liver-biliary diseases, jaundice, bronchitis, diarrhea and dysentery, throat infections, colds and as worm reducers, antiseptic wound healer, diuretic sedatives.

It has also been determined that the active ingredient of the plant, hypericin, can be used in the treatment of AIDS because it is effective against many viruses.

Hypericum perforatum, are presently one of the most consumed medicinal plants in the world.

In Germany, the consumption is around 600 ton.

While most of raw material is obtained by cultivating the plant, a certain part is collected from the flora of different countries. However, it needs to have have certain quality requirements.

Several studies have stated that there are 0.1-0.3% dianthron (hypericin pseudohypericin and hypericin-like substances), flavonoid, 3% hyperforin, 0.2-1% essential oil and tannins in the drug of St. John’s Wort.

In term of import and export, it has great importance.

St. John’s Wort is a common species in our flora and is grown commercially for both domestic use and export. However, in our country, there are preparations containing St John’s Wort, that are allowed to be imported.Although it is important in terms of medicine and economics and widely found in our flora, it is not produced under field conditions. If desired to be produced under field conditions, there is not a developed type in Turkey.