Methods and materials for treating depression and mood disorder

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Treatment of depression or mood disorder depends largely on a few central elements.
Because mental and mood disorders are complex, with various mechanisms affecting them (e.
g.
, serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRI, monoaminooxidase (MAO) inhibitors), it is very difficult to treat the mental or mood disorder with one therapy.
In addition, deficiency of any number of nutrients is quite common in depressed individuals.
Further, lack of certain nutrients can effect mood and mental disorders.
Since there is no panacea for treating mood or mental disorder and because prescription drugs have side effects, it is an objective of this invention to formulate a mild and safe product for consumers to improve mood disorder or depression.
The present invention features compositions containing 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) and St.
John's Wort.
In addition, these compositions can contain vitamins along with St.
John's Wort and/or 5-HTP to improve mood or mental disorder.
The compositions of the invention can contain a combination of particular levels of St.
John's Wort with hypericin and certain flavonoid markers, 5-HTP (or a plant that contains 5-HTP), and particular vitamins.
For example, a composition of the invention can contain 0.
01% to 90% w/w of dry extract weight or concentrated extract of flower top or leaves of St.
John's Wort.
Typically, 5-500 mg daily of dry weight or concentrated extract of St.
John's wort formulated as tablets, syrups, or encapsulates can be used.
In addition, the dry extract of St.
John's wort can contain 0.
001-5% of hypericin, 0.
001-5% quercetin, 0.
001-5.
0% of pseudohypericin, 0.
001-5.
0% of rutin, 0.
001-10% of hyperoside, and 0.
001-10% of isoquercetin.
The dry extract can also contain hydrophilic phytochemicals and minerals as well as lipophilic components of phytochemicals.
Further, a composition can contain 0.
01-90% w/w of 5-HTP.
The 5-HTP can be derived from the extraction of Griffonia simplicifolia, Mucana pruriens of legume, Musa sapientum, Gossypium hirsutum or Urtica dioica