Hypericin, a secondary metabolite first reported in 1830, is a natural photosensitizing naphtodianthrone and is mainly from the natural plant sources of genus Hypericum. Hypericin exhibits a wide variety of biological...Hypericin, a secondary metabolite first reported in 1830, is a natural photosensitizing naphtodianthrone and is mainly from the natural plant sources of genus Hypericum. Hypericin exhibits a wide variety of biological and pharmacological activities, such as antiviral, antidepressant, antitumor, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activity. Hypericin can also be utilized in photodynamic diagnosis. Accumulating evidence is pointing to the effects of hypericin with potential pharmaceutical and clinical interests in the past decades. The present review gives a comprehensive outline of the chemistry, botanical occurrence and biological activities of this powerful compound.展开更多
基金Key National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.81130069)Selected Program of Personnel Department for Oversea Scholar(2009-2011)+1 种基金the Chinese National S&T Special Project on Major New Drug Innovation(Grant No.2011ZX09307-002-01)the Key Technologies of the Quality Standards and the Safety of Health Food,"863 Program"(Grant No.2010AA023006)
文摘Hypericin, a secondary metabolite first reported in 1830, is a natural photosensitizing naphtodianthrone and is mainly from the natural plant sources of genus Hypericum. Hypericin exhibits a wide variety of biological and pharmacological activities, such as antiviral, antidepressant, antitumor, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activity. Hypericin can also be utilized in photodynamic diagnosis. Accumulating evidence is pointing to the effects of hypericin with potential pharmaceutical and clinical interests in the past decades. The present review gives a comprehensive outline of the chemistry, botanical occurrence and biological activities of this powerful compound.
