Υπερικό (Hypericum)

Hypericum olympicum
   Hypericum balearicum
 Hypericum coris
 Hypericum epicoides
  Hypericum inodorum
 Hypericum lanceolatum
 Hypericum olympicum
  Slender St.John’s- wort,Hypericum pulchrum
   Hypericum tomentosum
 Hypericum uralum

Το Υπερικό (Hypericum) είναι γένος φυτών  της οικογένειας  των  Clusiaceae,στο οποίο περιλαμβάνονται περίπου 150 είδη, ποώδη, θαμνώδη ή φρύγανα. Κυριότερα είδη είναι το Hypericum perforatum (Υπερικόν το διάτρητον, κοινώς βάλσαμο , βαλσαμόχορτο ή σπαθίδα) και το Hypericum perfoliatum (Υπερικόν το διαμπερές, κοινώς λειχηνόχορτο ή σταρίδα.
Το βαλσαμόχορτο είναι αειθαλές φυτό με ύψος περίπου ένα μέτρο και άνθη με έντονο κίτρινο χρώμα, τα οποία εμφανίζονται περίπου στα μέσα Ιουνίου. Είναι ενδημικό φυτό σε ολόκληρη σχεδόν την ευρωπαϊκή ήπειρο.

Χρήσεις

Το υπερικό ή βαλσαμόχορτο υπήρξε αντικείμενο της Ιατρικής από τα αρχαία χρόνια. Οι αρχαίοι Έλληνες το χρησιμοποιούσαν ως διουρητικό, επουλωτικό, εμμηναγωγό και αιμοστατικό.
Σήμερα στις ΗΠΑ και σε πολλές άλλες χώρες χρησιμοποιείται υπό μορφή χαπιών για την αντιμετώπιση της ήπιας και μέτριας κατάθλιψης. Χρησιμοποιείται, επίσης, ως αντισπασμωδικό και για την καταπολέμηση της αϋπνίας.

Εξωτερική χρήση:

 Χρησιμοποιείται υπό μορφή βάμματος, αφού εκχυλισθεί το φρέσκο φυτό σε ελαιόλαδο μέσα σε γυάλινα βάζα καλά κλεισμένα, που μένουν στον ήλιο επί 40 ημέρες περίπου, ως επουλωτικό σε πληγές, ερεθισμούς και εγκαύματα πρώτου βαθμού.

Εσωτερική χρήση:

 Σαν τσάι συνήθως ένα κουταλάκι του γλυκού ξερά τριμμένα φύλλα και άνθη σε μία κούπα καυτό νερό, που την σκεπάζουμε και την αφήνουμε σκεπασμένη για 10 με 15 λεπτά, για να περάσουν όλα τα συστατικά του φυτού στο νερό, από μία μέχρι τρεις φορές την ημέρα.

 Σε κάψουλες ή χάπια.

 Σε αλκοολούχο βάμμα.

Γενικές οδηγίες – προφυλάξεις:

Το υπερικό μπορεί να επηρεάσει το συκώτι προκαλώντας ευαισθησία του ατόμου στο φως. Στο δέρμα ορισμένων ατόμων μπορεί να προκαλέσει αντιδράσεις που εκδηλώνονται με δερματικούς ερεθισμούς,
Σύμφωνα με ορισμένους ερευνητές το υπερικό μπορεί να επηρεάσει το μεταβολισμό ορισμένων ενζύμων. Κατά συνέπεια, χρειάζεται προσοχή όταν χορηγείται ταυτόχρονα με άλλα φάρμακα ή και με ορισμένα τρόφιμα.

Hypericum

 Hypericum is a genus of about 400 species of flowring plants in the family f Hypericaceae  (formerly often considered a subfamily of Clusiaceae).

The genus has a nearly worldwide distribution, missing only from tropical  lowlands, deserts and polar-regions . All members of the genus may be referred to as St. John’s wort, though they are also commonly just called hypericum, and some are known as tutsan. The marsh St. John’s-worts are nowadays separated into the genus Triadenum.
St. John’s-worts vary from annual  or perennial herbaceous herbs  5–10 cm tall to shrubs and small treest up to 12 m tall. The leaves l are opposite, simple oval, 1–8 cm long, either deciduous or evergreen. The flowers vary from pale to dark yellow, and from 0.5–6 cm in diameter, with five (rarely four) petals. The fruit  is usually a dry capsule which splits to release the numerous small seeds; in some species it is fleshy and berry-like.

Uses of Hypericum

 

Some species are used as orgamental plants and have large, showy flowers. Numerous hybrids  and cultiviars  have been developed for use in horticulture , such as Hyrpericum moserianum  (H.calycinum H.patulum) and Hypericum calycinum cv. ‘Hidcote’.
St. John’s-worts can occur as nuisance weeds  in farmland and gardens. On pastures, some can be more than a nuisance, causing debilitating photosensitivity and sometimes abortion  in livestockl. The beetles Chrysolina quandrigemina ,Chrysolina hyperici  and the St.John’s- wort Root Borer  (Agrilus hyperici) like to feed on Common St.John’s-wort (H. perforatum) and have been used for biocontol  where the plant has become an invasive weed .
Hypericum species are the only known food plants of the caterpillar of the Treble- bar , a species of moth. Other Lepidoptera  species whose larvae sometimes feed on Hypericum include Common Emerald ,The Engrailed  (recorded on Imperforate St.John’s-wort , H. maculatum), Grey Pug and Seraceous Hebrew Character.

Medical properties

Common St. John’s -wort (H. perforatum) has long been used in herbalism . It was known to have medical properties in Classical Antiquity and was a standard component of theriacs, from the Mithridate  ofAulus Cornelius Celcus ‘ De Medicina  to the Venice treacle of d’Amsterdammer Apotheek in 1686. Folk usages included oily extract (“St. John’s oil”) and Hypericum snaps.
H. perforatum is the most potent species and it is today grown commercially for use in herbalism and medicine; other St. John’s-worts possess interesting properties and chemical compounds  but are not well researched. As these secondary compounds  appear to be related to deterring herbivores , they are present in varying and unpredictable quantities: still, a number of high-yield cultiviars have been developed.
Two main compounds of interest have been studied in more detail:hyperforin and hypericin . However, the pharmacology of H. perforatum is not resolved, and at least its antipresant  properties are caused by a wide range of factors interacting. As psychiatric medication, it is usually taken as pills, or as tea. Few standardised preparations are available, and research has mainly studied alcoholic extracts and isolated compounds. What research data exists supports a noticeable effect in many cases of light and medium depression , but no significant improvement of severe depression.
Another common use of H. perforatum is as an oily extract: the ruby -red oil appears to be strongly antibiotic, assisting healing of wounds,first-degree burns  and concussions. Both hypericin and hyperforin are reported to have antibiotic properties. Justifying this view with the then-current doctrine of signatures,herbalist  William Coles (1626–1662) wrote in the 17th century that

“The little holes whereof the leaves of Saint Johns wort are full, doe resemble all the pores of the skin and therefore it is profitable for all hurts and wounds that can happen thereunto.”

There is evidence that St. John’s-worts can act as abortifacients  since interference with the Combined oral contraceptive pill  has occurred. Complications have also been observed in other human patients: high-dosage H. perforatum interacts with a wide range of medications due to activation of the Pragnane X reseptor detoxification pathway, as well as causing photosensitivity. It is strongly recommended not to take St. John’s-wort during pregnancy or when tanning, and it has caused a few deaths in patients undergoing anti-HIV/AIDS and  cancer therapy. Extremely high doses (rarely reached with OTC  preparations) are heparotoxic .Hypericum extract, by inducing both the CYP3A4  and the P-glycoprotein (P-gp), can reduce the plasma concentrations of different antineoplastic agents such as imatinib ,irinotecan and docetaxel , thus reducing the clinical efficacy of these drugs.
Hypericum perforatum may be capable of reducing the physical signs of opiate withdrawal.
Hypericum is a common treatment in homeopathy, used for the healing of deep wounds or as a relief from depression.
 Hypericin
 Hyperforin

Selected species

Hypericum acmosepalum
Hypericum acostanum
Hypericum addingtonii
Hypericum adenotrichum
Hypericum aegypticum

Hypericum anagalloides- Creeping St.Johm’s-wort

Hypericum androsaemum

Hypericum annulatum

Hypericum aphyllum

Hypericum ascyron

Hypericum asplundii

Hypericum athoum

Hypericum atomarium

Hypericum augustinii

Hypericum balearicum

Hypericum balfourii

Hypericum barbatum

Hypericum beanii

Hypericum bellum

Hypericum boreale – Northern St. John’s-wort

Hypericum buckleii – Blue Ridge St. John’s-wort

Hypericum bupleuroides

Hypericum calycinum – Great St. John’s-wort, Jerusalem Star, “Rose of Sharon”, “Aaron’s Beard”

Hypericum calycinum cv. ‘Hidcote’

Hypericum canadense L. – Canadian St. John’s-wort, Irish St. John’s-wort

Hypericum canariense – Canary Islands St. John’s-wort

Hypericum capitatum

Hypericum cerastoides

Hypericum choisianum

Hypericum cistifolium

Hypericum concinnum – Goldwire

Hypericum confertum

Hypericum cordifolium

Hypericum coris

Hypericum crenulatum

Hypericum crux-andreae

Hypericum cumulicola – Highlands Scrub Hypericum

Hypericum curvisepalum

Hypericum delphicum

Hypericum densiflorum – Glade St. John’s-wort, Dense St.John’s-wort.

Hypericum denticulatum Walt. – Coppery St. John’s-wort

Hypericum dissimulatum – Disguised St. John’s-wort

Hypericum dyeri

Hypericum eastwoodianum

Hypericum elegans

Hypericum ellipticum[verification needed]

Hypericum elodes – Marsh Hypericum

Hypericum elongatum

Hypericum empetrifolium

Hypericum erectum

Hypericum ericoides

Hypericum fasciculatum

Hypericum fieriense

Hypericum foliosum

Hypericum formosum – Western St. John’s-wort

Hypericum forrestii

Hypericum fragile

Hypericum frondosum – Cedarglade St. Johns-wort

Hypericum galioides

Hypericum gentianoides (L.) BSP. – Orange-grass St. John’s-wort, Pinweed

Hypericum glandulosum

Hypericum gnidiifolium

Hypericum gramineum

Hypericum grandifolium

Hypericum graveolens

Hypericum hartwegii

Hypericum henryi

Hypericum hircinum – Stinking Tutsan

Hypericum hirsutum L. – Hairy St. John’s-wort

Hypericum hookerianum

Hypericum humifusum L. – Trailing St. John’s-wort

Hypericum hypericoides

Hypericum hyssopifolium

Hypericum × inodorum

Hypericum japonicum

Hypericum kalmianum – Kalm’s St. John’s-wort

Hypericum kamtschaticum Ledeb.

Hypericum kelleri

Hypericum kotschyanum

Hypericum kouytchense

Hypericum lagarocladum

Hypericum lancasteri – Lancaster’s St. John’s-wort

Hypericum lanceolatum

Hypericum lanuginosum

Hypericum leschenaultii

Hypericum linariifolium – Toadflax-leaved St. John’s-wort

Hypericum linarioides

Hypericum llanganaticum

Hypericum lobbii

Hypericum lobocarpum

Hypericum maclarenii

Hypericum maculatum – Imperforate St. John’s-wort

Hypericum maguirei

Hypericum majus – Larger Canadian St. John’s-wort

Hypericum matangense

Hypericum monogynum

Hypericum montanum L. – Pale St. John’s-wort

Hypericum montbretii

Hypericum × moserianum

Hypericum mutilum L. – Dwarf St. John’s-wort

Hypericum myricariifolium Hieron.

Hypericum nanum

Hypericum nudiflorum

Hypericum nummularium – Round-leaved St. John’s-wort

Hypericum oblongifolium

Hypericum olympicum

Hypericum orientale

Hypericum origanifolium

Hypericum pallens

Hypericum patulum Thunb

Hypericum peninsulare

Hypericum perfoliatum

Hypericum perforatum – Common St. John’s-wort, Perforate St John’s-wort, Tipton’s Weed, Klamath Weed

Hypericum perforatum cv. ‘Anthos’

Hypericum prietoi

Hypericum prolificum – Shrubby St. John’s-wort

Hypericum pseudohenryi – Irish Tutsan

Hypericum pulchrum – Slender St. John’s-wort

Hypericum punctatum Lam. – Spotted St. John’s-wort

Hypericum quitense

Hypericum reflexum

Hypericum reptans

Hypericum reductum

Hypericum revolutum Vahl

Hypericum richeri

Hypericum roeperanum Schimp. ex A. Rich.

Hypericum rumeliacum

Hypericum sampsonii

Hypericum scopulorum

Hypericum scouleri – Western St. John’s-wort

Hypericum setosum

Hypericum socotranum

Hypericum sphaerocarpum – Roundfruit St. John’s-wort

Hypericum spruneri

Hypericum stellatum

Hypericum subsessile

Hypericum tenuicaule

Hypericum tetrapterum – Square-stalked St. John’s-wort, Square-stemmed St. John’s-wort, St. Peter’s-wort, Peterwort

Hypericum tomentosum

Hypericum tortuosum

Hypericum trichocaulon

Hypericum triquetrifolium – Curled-leaved St. John’s-wort

Hypericum undulatum – Wavy St. John’s-wort

Hypericum uralum

Hypericum vacciniifolium

Hypericum wilsonii

Hypericum xylosteifolium – Turkish Tutsan

Hypericum yakusimense