From Saturday July 31, 1999 Vancouver Sun

St. John's Wort Linked to Cataracts

LONDON — St. John’s wort, a herb often billed as a natural alternative to the anti-depressant Prozac, could cause cataracts if people taking it are exposed to bright light and sunshine, New Scientist magazine said. A study by Joan Roberts and researchers at Fordham University in New York showed that hypericin, the active ingredient in the herb reacts with ultraviolet light to produce chemicals in the body called free radicals that damage cells.

"If this product is consumed - one should avoid exposure to bright light to prevent damage to the eye," the magazine quoted Roberts as saying.

In laboratory experiments she and her colleagues found that hypericin and bright light damaged proteins in the eye that could lead to cataracts.

They warned that people taking St. John’s wort for seasonal affective disorder, a winter depression due to the lack of daylight, and light-box therapy should be particularly careful.

"Certainly never take this drug and use light therapy," she said, adding that users should also be cautious while skiing and sunbathing.

St. John’s wort is a very popular herb which research has shown is effective in treating mild to moderate depression.

Roberts said scientists are looking into ways of harnessing the side effect of the herb as a potential cancer treatment.

"Its side effect is being used as a potential therapy for killing cancer cells," she said.