DETAILS
Specification
| Item | Specification | Result | Test Method |
| Active Ingredient | |||
| hypericin | 0.3% | 0.35% | UV |
| Physical Control | |||
| Identification | Positive | Conforms | TLC |
| Appearance | brown yellow fine powder | Complies | Visual |
| Odor | Characteristic | Complies | Organoleptic |
| Taste | Characteristic | Conforms | Organoleptic |
| Sieve Analysis | 100% pass 80 mesh | Complies | 80 Mesh Screen |
| Loss on Drying | 5% Max | 3.37% | 5g/105C /5hrs |
| Solubility Solubility | in water | Conforms | Visual |
| Ash | 3% Max | 2.84% | 2g/525C/5hrs |
| Chemical Control | |||
| Sulphate | 0.5% Max | Complies | 2g/525C/5hrs |
| Insolubles In Ethanol | 10ppm Max | 5.3ppm | |
| Ethanol Resides | 0.2% Max | Complies | |
| Arsenic (As) | NMT 2ppm | Conforms | Atomic Absorption |
| Cadmium(Cd) | NMT 1ppm | Conforms | Atomic Absorption |
| Lead (Pb) | NMT 2ppm | Conforms | Atomic Absorption |
| Chlorate (Cl) | NMT 1ppm | Conforms | Atomic Absorption |
| Phosphate Organics | NMT 1ppm | Conforms | Gas Chromatography |
| Heavy Metals | 20ppm Max | Complies | Atomic Absorption |
| Pesticides Residues | NMT 1ppm | Conforms | Gas Chromatography |
| Microbiological Control | |||
| Total Plate Count | 5000cfu/g Max | 50cfu/g | |
| P.aeruginosa | Absent | OK | |
| S.aureus | Absent | OK | |
| Salmonella | Absent | OK | |
| Yeast & Mold | 50cfu/g Max | 10cfu/g | |
| E.Coli | Negative | Negative | |
| Staphylococcus | Negative | Conforms | |
| Aflatoxins | NTM 0.2ppb | Absent | HPLC |
| Salmonella | Negative | Negative |
|
Conclusion |
Conform with specification |
|
Storage |
Store in sealed containers at cool & dry place. |
|
|
Protect from light, moisture and pest infestation. |
|
Shelf life |
|
|
2 years when properly stored |
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St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a flowering plant named because the bright yellow flowers were said to bloom for the first time around St. John the Baptist's birthday. The word "wort" means "plant" in Old English.
People have been using St. John's wort for centuries. Today, the popular herb is often used to ease the symptoms of depression.
Health Benefits
St.John's wort is widely believed to help boost mood and provide some relief from depression. The herb is also being explored for the following health concerns:
Anxiety
Menopause-related symptoms
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Seasonal affective disorder
Smoking cessation
An oil made from St. John’s wort has also been used topically for wound healing and for a variety of other skin conditions such as eczema and hemorrhoids.
Scientific studies have shown St. John's wort to provide certain benefits related to depression.
Depression
Although the benefits of St. John's wort are still being explored, overall, the evidence suggests that St. John's wort may be more effective than a placebo in alleviating mild-to-moderate depression.
A 2015 study published in the Annals of Family Medicine, for instance, examined whether antidepressants were more effective than a placebo in a primary care setting. For the analysis, scientists examined 66 previously published studies (with a total of 15,161 participants) and found that antidepressant medication and St. John's wort extracts were more effective than a placebo.
St. John's wort was associated with fewer dropouts because of adverse effects compared to tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (NRI), a serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI; venlafaxine), and noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant agents (NaSSAs).
Major Depression
The most comprehensive research on St. John's wort and major depression includes a report published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviewsin 2008.
