Coincidentally, I have been reading up on herbal practices of Native American Peoples, and found this bit of information:
Medical Research:
The active chemicals that were found in St. Johns Wort were choline, pectin, rutin, sitosterol, hypericin, and pseudohypericin. Since 1988, hypericin has been researched for AIDS treatment as a sedative, anti-inflamatory, and antibacterial drug. Also, it has reduced fever, decreased swelling of lymph nodes, improved appetites, and increased the energy of AIDS patients (Foster and Duke, 190). However, it was not a cure. Recent research has indicated immune-stimulating chemicals and anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory activity. In laboratory experiments when mice infected with the leukemia virus were injected with an extract of St. Johns Wort, they did not develop the disease. When given orally, it was equally effective. HIV-infected mice had similar results. Side effects included skin burns, rashes, and blistering because of the chemical hypericin (James,1989). Further research was needed for HIV and leukemia treatments of St. Johns Wort. Other studies supported the herb's use for wound-healing and reduction of wound infections (Meuelo,198). Milspaugh (1892) reported the ingested plant sometimes caused mental depression, exhaustion, confusion, pupil dilation, increased heartbeats, numbness, and shivering.
AUTHOR: Schafer, Patricia D.
TITLE: A Manual of Cherokee Herbal Remedies: History, Information, Identification, Medicinal Healing. Mar 1993, 292p.; Master's Thesis, Indiana State University.