Hypericin is extracted from the whole herb of Forsythia suspensa. It has anti depression and anti-virus effects. It can also be used as a veterinary drug to prevent and treat avian influenza in chickens.

Hypericin has photosensitive activity and photodynamic action

    Its antiviral mechanism is related to its photosensitive activity. Under illumination, hypericin absorbs photons, excites singlet oxygen, releases energy, destroys cell membrane, and affects the normal physiological functions of protein and nucleic acid. It may act on the virus in two ways: directly attacking the virus particles, and may directly attack the membrane components of the virus with lipid coating; Or act on virus infected cells.
Antiviral effect of hypericin

    It has a wide range of effects. Through in vitro experiments, it has been found that it can kill and inhibit herpes simplex virus (HSV), parainfluenza virus, cowpox virus, herpetic stomatitis virus, Moloney mouse leukemia virus, avian influenza virus, mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV), sindbi  virus, as well as human macrophages.          

3HypericinAntineoplastic effect

    Hypericin can be selectively enriched around tumor tissues, and it is expected to develop into a new, safe and effective natural anti-tumor drug for healthy tissues. Hypericin has little damage. Its anti-tumor activity is related to its photosensitive activity and photodynamic effect. When it reaches the tumor tissue and is exposed to sunlight, it will achieve its toxic effect on tumor cells by inducing tumor apoptosis and necrosis. The photosensitive activity of hypericin has also been used in the early diagnosis of cancer. Studies have shown that the sensitivity and specificity of hypericin in the early diagnosis of bladder cancer can be as high as 94% and 95% respectively, and no photobleaching phenomenon has been found in the process of diagnosis and surgery.