Hyperforin is one of the key phytochemical actives found in St. John's Wort. Generally, it designated in percentile, meaning that if a 100 mg dose of St. John's Wort is extracted at a standardized 5%, you will get about 5 milligrams of hyperforin from that dose. All of the siminal trials using St Johns Wort use a hyperforin extract of about 3% to 5%. Theoretically, a 3% extract of Hyperforin out of 100 mg of St Johns Wort will yield about 3 milligrams, while a 5% extract yields about 5 milligrams. Many products for Hyperforin claim a 3% to 5% level of hyperforin. The reason for this is that it is almost impossible to standardize the extract to an exact amount due to the fact that phytochemical content of St. Johns Wort can be affected by factors such as:

Hyperforin's mechanism of action.

Though the mechanism of action in hyperforin is unlike synthetic prescription medications, it has a similar effect. Clinical trials show that hyperforin taken over a period of 2 - 6 weeks can help to improve the function of neurotransmitters like serotonin, which are closely linked to feelings of anxiety. Some studies show that St. Johns Wort with hyperforin extract is just as effective in treating symptoms of anxiety as are some popular prescription SSRI's.

Beware of non double standardized St. John's wort.

As all researchers in they field of phyto medecine know, "Standardization is one thing but you must start with a superior flower." And this has never been more relevan than now. Most of the St. John's wort sold in America is sourced in China where the criteria for actives is incomparable to European sources. Moreover, pesticides are rampant and it is Xrayed at strategic points for Give the difficultiy of harvesting a high hyperforin extract at this time (Winter of 2005) there is a world paucity of research-grade rawmaterial high in hyperforin. In fact, most of the St John's wort products listed at 3% hyperforin are not even that.  

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