[Antidepressive effect of a Hypericum extract standardized to an active hypericine complex. Biochemical and clinical...

In 6 women with depressive symptoms aged 55-65 years the effect on the excretion of urinary metabolits of noradrenaline and dopamine was measured after a monotherapy with the active hypericine complex (Psychotonin M). In all patients there was a significant increase in 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglucol which is considered an expression of a beginning antidepressive reaction. With the same patients supplemented with further 9 cases the clinical influence on the depression was measured during a period of 4-6 weeks, with the rating-scales SCAG (Clinical assessment geriatric scale) and DSI (Depression Status Inventory) there was shown a quantitative improvement of the items anxiety, dysphoric mood, loss of interest, hypersomnia, anorexia, depression regularly worse in the morning, insomnia, obstipation, psychomotoric retardation and feeling of worthlessness.