Herbal and brand remedies on a par

LONDON - An extract of the herbal remedy St John's wort is as effective as a commonly prescribed drug for people suffering from moderate to severe depression, say researchers.

They compared the extract called WS 5570, which is made by the German company Dr Willmar Schwabe Pharmaceuticals, and the antidepressant paroxetine sold under the brand name Paxil or Seroxat by GlaxoSmithKline.

St John's wort has been called nature's alternative to Prozac but researchers have warned that it can interfere with hormone treatment, antibiotics and chemotherapy.

Earlier studies have shown the herbal remedy is also effective for treating patients with mild depression.

"In the treatment of moderate to severe major depression ... WS5570 is at least as effective as paroxetine and is better tolerated," Professor Armin Szegedi of the University of Berlin said in a report published online by the British Medical Journal.

In a study funded by the German company, the researchers compared the treatments on 251 patients, aged 18-70, for six weeks. Half of the patients taking the extract reported an improvement, compared to a third taking paroxetine. Patients taking the extract also reported fewer side-effects such as stomach disorders.

Paroxetine belongs to a class of drugs known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. British and European health authorities have voiced concern that the antidepressants may increase the risk of suicide in young people.

- NZPA