Hypericin has been shown to specifically inhibited T-type calcium channel activity. Hypericum extract containing hypericin also inhibited T-type calcium channel activity. Moreover, other chemicals in Hypericum extract showed a synergistic effect to hypericin. In view of this, hypericin or hypericin-containing Hypericum extract can be used as T-channel blockers. Hypericum extract, extract of other species of the Hypericum genus, extract of other plants containing hypericin, hypericin, hypericin derivatives, hypericin analogs, such as pseudohypericin, and other hypericum extract constituents can be used as therapeutics targeted at T-type calcium channels for treatment of diseases associated with T-channel abnormality. Methods for administering hypericin and hypericum extract are disclosed.
1. A method of treating a patient by inhibiting T-type calcium channels in a patient's cells, wherein said patient is suffering from chronic heart failure, congestive heart failure, ischemic condition, arrythmia, hypoinsulinemia, hyperinsulinemia, hyperaldosteronemia, epilepsy or preterm labor, comprising administering to said patient a composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of an extract of Hypericum perforatum effective to inhibit the movement of calcium ions into cells and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said patient is a human.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutically effective amount is about 0.05 mg to 500 mg per kg body weight of said patient.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said extract of Hypericum is a methanol or ethanol extract of Hypericum perforatum.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient has chronic heart failure.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said patient has congestive heart failure.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said health disorder is ischemic condition.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said patient has arrhythmia.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said patient has hypoinsulinemia.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said patient has hyperinsulinemia.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said patient has hyperaldosteronemia.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said health disorder is epilepsy.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said patient has preterm labor.
14. A method according to claim 1 , wherein one or more components of said extract other than hypericin contribute to the inhibition of the T-cell calcium current.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition consists essentially of a pharmaceutically effective amount of an extract of Hypericum perforatum.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutically effective amount is about 0.5 mg to 50 mg per kg body weight of said patient.