St. John’s Wort Mined for Medicinal Value

A unique collection of St. John’s Wort (Hypericum) curated by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Ames, IA, is providing university collaborators with genetically diverse, well-documented sources of this herb to use in studies examining its medicinal potential. In collaboration with Mark Widrlechner, a horticulturist with the ARS crop genebank at the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station in Ames, scientists from the Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements (CRBDS) are screening 180 germplasm accessions of St. John’s wort for biologically active compounds. Some may be worth evaluating further in clinical trials for their potential to combat viral infections, reduce inflammation or improve digestive health. Of particular interest is how these compounds interact, and whether those interactions are beneficial to human health.