noun
- Plural of hypericin; a group of polycyclic compounds found in St. John's wort and other plants, studied for potential medicinal properties.
Usage: technical; chemistry/botany; usually used in plural form
Examples
- Researchers isolated hypericins from the St. John's wort plant.
- The hypericins in this herbal extract are believed to have antidepressant properties.
- Scientists are studying how hypericins interact with human cells.
- Hypericins have been investigated for their potential antiviral activity.