AEGiS-GMHC: Common Alternative Therapies: Hypericin

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Common Alternative Therapies: Hypericin

Gay Men's Health Crisis: Treatment Issues, Volume 7 no. 11/12 - Winter, 1993/94
Bree Scott-Hartland

"Hypericin", an extract of the St. John's Wort (Hypericin perforatum) plant, is believed to inhibit the replication of cells already infected with HIV.[1] Other test tube studies suggest that hypericin works to inactivate HIV virions or interferes with either the assembly or shedding of viral particles.[2] This mechanism may be synergistic with AZT or other reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Used in Germany in the 1940s as an anti-depressant, hypericin appears non-toxic, though photosensitivity (discomfort to exposed light) has been reported from it in both animals and humans.

A U.S. clinical trial of intravenous (IV) hypericin (manufactured by VIMRx Pharmaceuticals of Stanford, Connecticut) in HIV-infected individuals began in November 1991. However, the trial, conducted at New York University Medical Center (NYU), was temporarily closed because of significant photosensitivity in patients receiving 2mg of hypericin twice a week. The trial was restarted and preliminary results were released at the First National Conference on Human Retroviruses in 1993. A new dose of hypericin (0.25mg/kg twice or three times per week) was initiated in 25 patients with less than 300 CD4 cells. Dose limiting toxicities (photosensitivity) were again seen. No significant change in viral load was observed.[3]

A trial of VIMRx's oral formulation is planned to start at NYU in the beginning of 1994. For information, call Janet Vacariello at (212) 263-8724.[4]

Extracts of St. John's Wort plant, in oral formulation, are available in many health food stores. However, there is no evidence that these compounds provide any benefit as an anti-HIV therapy.

1. Valentine F et al. Abstract WA 1022. VII International Conference on AIDS, Florence. June 1991.

2. Meruelo D et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .1988; 85:5230-4.

3. McAuliffe V, et al. Abstract 570. First National Conference on Human Retroviruses. Washington, DC. December 1993.

4. Personal Communication. Trip Gulick, MD. January 3, 1994.

Copyright © 1993 - Treatment Issues. Reproduced with permission. Treatment Issues is published twelve times yearly by GMHC, Inc. All rights reserved. Noncommercial reproduction is encouraged. Subscription lists are kept confidential. GMHC Treatment Issues, The Tisch Building, 119 West 24th Street, New York, NY 10011 fredg@gmhc.org http://www.gmhc.org

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