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''Hypericum perforatum'', known as Perforate St John's-wort, Common Saint John's wort and St John's wort, is a flowering plant in the family ''Hypericaceae.'' The common name "St John's wort" may be used to refer to any species of the genus ''Hypericum''. Therefore, ''Hypericum perforatum'' is sometimes called "Common St John's wort" or "Perforate St John's wort" in order to differentiate it. It is a medicinal herb with antidepressant activity and potent anti-inflammatory properties as an arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor and COX-1 inhibitor. ==Botanical description== ''Hypericum perforatum'' is native to Europe and Asia〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Hypericum perforatum L. )〕 but has spread worldwide as an invasive species, including to temperate regions of India, China, Canada and the United States. The herb's common name comes from its traditional flowering and harvesting on St John's day, 24 June. The genus name ''Hypericum'' is derived from the Greek words ''hyper'' (above) and ''eikon'' (picture), in reference to the plant's traditional use in warding off evil by hanging plants over a religious icon in the house during St John's day. Peforate St John's wort is a herbaceous perennial plant with extensive, creeping rhizomes. Its stems are erect, branched in the upper section, and can grow to 1 m high. It has opposite, stalkless, narrow, oblong leaves that are 1–2 cm long. The leaves are yellow-green in color, with conspicuous translucent dots, giving them a 'perforated' appearance, to which the plant's Latin name refers. Its flowers measure up to 2.5 cm across, have five petals, and are colored bright yellow with conspicuous black dots. The flowers appear in broad cymes at the ends of the upper branches, between late spring and early to mid summer. The sepals are pointed, with black glandular dots. There are many stamens, which are united at the base into three bundles. The pollen grains are ellipsoidal.〔 When flower buds (not the flowers themselves) or seed pods are crushed, a reddish/purple liquid is produced. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Hypericum perforatum」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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