Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.

Hypericum androsaemum (tutsan) is chiefly known in European horticultural tradition as an attractive hedging plant, yet local herbalists and herbals from the British Isles and parts of continental Europe recorded occasional medicinal uses that involve infusions and macerations. In the 17th‑century English herbal tradition, Gerard records that tutsan’s bruised leaves were applied to fresh wounds (Gerard, 1597). Across much of the British Isles, herbals and ethnobotanical surveys describe small, internal infusions of leaves and flowering tops taken as a mild tea for colds, nervous complaints, or melancholy (Sowerby, 1888; Beith, 1995). In France and Germany, French pharmacopoeias and 19th‑century herbals note leaf macerations and decoctions employed as topical washes or compresses for bruises and sprains (Dorvault, 1858; Kneipp, 1895). Additionally, rural practitioners of the Alpine regions used poultices of crushed leaves applied externally for superficial inflammation or insect bites (Künzle, 1945).

When prepared as a modest medicinal infusion, folk practice typically recommends 2–3 g of fresh leaves and flowering tops infused in 250 mL of recently boiled water for 10–15 minutes. The resulting tea is taken in small quantities—about 150 mL once or twice daily—while the warm liquid can also be cooled for a compress. As a maceration, an equal weight of fresh or dried herb is chopped and steeped in cool water for several hours; the liquid is then strained for topical use on bruises or minor skin irritation. Because long‑term internal use is not well supported, most herbals advise keeping daily amounts modest and discontinuing use after a week or two. Tutsan is not a standard lactation or pregnancy aid; neither is it recommended for nursing mothers without professional guidance. For topical use, apply only to unbroken skin and test a small area first to check for individual sensitivity.

Phytochemically, tutsan contains flavonoids (notably quercetin and rutin), phenolic acids, and significant amounts of hyperforin and related polyprenylated phloroglucinols, constituents well established by comparative analysis of Hypericum species and consistent across ethnobotanical and pharmacological reviews (Bennett et al., 2000; CRADLE, 2001). These compounds provide antimicrobial and anti‑inflammatory activity consistent with the plant’s recorded topical and mild internal uses in herbals and local practice.

Today, Hypericum androsaemum is principally cultivated as an ornamental shrub across the British Isles, parts of mainland Europe, and North America, while occasional artisanal tinctures or topical macerations appear in niche European phytotherapy markets. Although clinical research is sparse compared with H. perforatum, ongoing phytochemical surveys continue to profile its flavonoid and hyperforin content, and some contemporary herbalists still prepare small infusions or compresses following historical folk tradition (European Medicines Agency, 2010).

General Uses Top

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Common products:
- Natural brown–red dyestuffs extracted from the ripe fruits, used historically for wool and other protein fibers.

Colorants and tanning:
- Ripe fruits have been used to obtain reddish-brown dyes for textiles; dried aerial parts may contribute yellow tones in combination with metal mordants.
- No evidence supports significant tanning use; occasional reports of use as a tan plant lack precise sourcing.

Properties relevant to use:
- Fruit pigments (flavonoids/anthocyanins) deliver brown–red hues on protein fibers under mordanted conditions; dye classes are consistent with the plant’s known phenolic profile, though detailed anthocyanin quantification for this species is limited.

Standards and regulation:
- No specific dye standards (ISO/ASTM/EN) have been identified for H. androsaemum extracts; national regulations on natural colorants for textiles apply in general (e.g., REACH in the EU).

Sustainability and sourcing:
- Wild collection occurs where the shrub is common; cultivated ornamental stock may provide a controlled supply. No dedicated conservation or sourcing assessments were found.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name	Authority	First published in
Androsaemum androsaemum	(L.) Huth	Helios 11: 133 (1893)
Androsaemum officinale	All.	Fl. Pedem. 2: 147 (1785)
Androsaemum vulgare	Gaertn.	Fruct. Sem. Pl. 1: 282 (1788)
Hypericum bacciferum	Lam.	Fl. Franç. 3: 151 (1779)
Hypericum bacciforme	Bubani	Fl. Pyren. 3: 343 (1901)
Hypericum floridum	Salisb.	Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton : 369 (1796)
Androsaemum floridum	Salisb.	Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton 369. 1796 (1796)
Hypericum webbianum	G.Nicholson	Hand-List Trees Shrubs 1[Polypet.]: 37 (1894)
Hypericum androsaemum f. variegatum	D.C.McClint. & E.C.Nelson	Moorea 5: 26 (1986)
Hypericum androsaemum var. dilatatum	Merino	Fl. Galicia 1: 248 (1905)

Common names Top

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Filter by language:

Language	Common/alternative name
English	shrubby st. john's wort
English	tutsan
English	sweet-amber
Arabic	داذي مخزني
Arabic	رمان الأنهار / حشيشة الأسد
Azerbaijani	boyaq dazı
Bulgarian	багрилна звъника
Bengali	টুটসান
Catalan	pericó de sureda
Catalan	orval
Czech	třezalka bobulovitá
Welsh	dail y beiblau
Danish	bær-perikon
German	blut-johanniskraut
German	mannsblut
German	blutjohanniskraut
Basque	orkatx arrunt
Persian	متامتی
French	millepertuis androsème
French	millepertuis androseme
French	toute-saine
French	toute-bonne
French	herbe-à-tous-maux
Irish	meas torc allta
Igbo	shrubby st. john's wort
Igbo	sweet-amber
Igbo	tutsan
Georgian	კორობელა
Macedonian	бојаџиски кантарион
Dutch	mansbloed
Polish	dziurawiec barwierski
Russian	Андроземум
Russian	Зверобой красильный
Slovak	ľubovník bobuľovitý
Slovenian	jagodasta krčnica
Chinese	浆果金丝桃

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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No forms added yet.

Germination/Propagation Top

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Sow seeds at 20°C, expecting germination within 3 months without further temperature treatment.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:

- Doubtful data

- Extinct

- Introduced

- Native

Africa click to expand
- Northern Africa
  - Algeria
  - Morocco
  - Tunisia

Asia-temperate click to expand
- Caucasus
  - North Caucasus
  - Transcaucasus
- Middle Asia
  - Turkmenistan
- Western Asia
  - Iran
  - Lebanon-Syria
  - Turkey

Australasia click to expand
- Australia
  - Tasmania
- New Zealand
  - Antipodean Islands
  - Chatham Islands
  - New Zealand North
  - New Zealand South

Europe click to expand
- Middle Europe
  - Austria
  - Belgium
  - Germany
- Northern Europe
  - Great Britain
- Southeastern Europe
  - Bulgaria
  - Italy
  - Sicilia
  - Turkey-in-Europe
  - Yugoslavia
- Southwestern Europe
  - Corse
  - France
  - Portugal
  - Spain

Northern America click to expand
- Southeastern U.S.A.
  - Maryland

Southern America click to expand
- Southern South America
  - Chile Central
  - Chile South

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!

Database	ID/link to page
World Flora Online	wfo-0000727341
Canadensys	6149
USDA Plants	HYAN8
Tropicos	7800024
INPN	103245
Flora of Italy	1231
KEW	urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:433187-1
The Plant List	kew-2857718
Missouri Botanical Garden	279202
Open Tree Of Life	283621
Observations.org	6885
NCBI Taxonomy	140968
NBN Atlas	NBNSYS0000002953
Nature Serve	2.129586
IPNI	433187-1
iNaturalist	77480
GBIF	3189525
Freebase	/m/04mxhsg
EPPO	HYPAN
EOL	590493
Calflora (Californian flora)	8601
USDA GRIN	19558
Wikipedia	Hypericum_androsaemum

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.

Accession	Assembly
Accession	Name	Level	Submitter	Released	Coverage	Size
GCA_963995505.1	ddHypAndr1.1	Chromosome	WELLCOME SANGER INSTITUTE	2024-03-17	41	366.73 Mb

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.

Title

Authors

Publication

Released

IDs

Trading acyls and swapping sugars: metabolic innovations in Solanum trichomes

Fiesel PD, Kerwin RE, Daniel Jones A, Last RL

bioRxiv

19-Mar-2024

PMCID:	PMC10274652
doi:	10.1101/2023.06.05.542877
PMID:	37333341

Update of the Xylella spp. host plant database – systematic literature search up to 30 June 2023

Gibin D, Gutierrez Linares A, Fasanelli E, Pasinato L, Delbianco A

EFSA J

15-Dec-2023

PMCID:	PMC10722330
doi:	10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8477
PMID:	38107375

Saccharomyces cerevisiae biofactory to produce naringenin using a systems biology approach and a bicistronic vector expression strategy in flavonoid production

Mejía-Manzano LA, Ortiz-Alcaráz CI, Parra Daza LE, Suarez Medina L, Vargas-Cortez T, Fernández-Niño M, González Barrios AF, González-Valdez J

Microbiol Spectr

13-Dec-2023

PMCID:	PMC10871697
doi:	10.1128/spectrum.03374-23
PMID:	38088543

Yield and Composition of the Essential Oil of Clinopodium nepeta subsp. spruneri as Affected by Harvest Season and Cultivation Method, i.e., Outdoor, Greenhouse and In Vitro Culture

Vlachou G, Papafotiou M, Daferera DJ, Tarantilis PA

Plants (Basel)

07-Dec-2023

PMCID:	PMC10747734
doi:	10.3390/plants12244098
PMID:	38140425

The most polyphagous insect herbivore? Host plant associations of the Meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius (L.)

Thompson V, Harkin C, Stewart AJ

PLoS One

04-Oct-2023

PMCID:	PMC10602594
doi:	10.1371/journal.pone.0291734
PMID:	37792900

Biphenyls and dibenzofurans of the rosaceous subtribe Malinae and their role as phytoalexins

Busnena BA, Beerhues L, Liu B

Planta

09-Sep-2023

PMCID:	PMC10492887
doi:	10.1007/s00425-023-04228-7
PMID:	37689618

Update of the Xylella spp. host plant database – systematic literature search up to 31 December 2022

Gibin D, Pasinato L, Delbianco A

EFSA J

13-Jun-2023

PMCID:	PMC10262070
doi:	10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8061
PMID:	37325259

Design and Assembly of a Biofactory for (2S)-Naringenin Production in Escherichia coli: Effects of Oxygen Transfer on Yield and Gene Expression

Parra Daza LE, Suarez Medina L, Tafur Rangel AE, Fernández-Niño M, Mejía-Manzano LA, González-Valdez J, Reyes LH, González Barrios AF

Biomolecules

20-Mar-2023

PMCID:	PMC10046166
doi:	10.3390/biom13030565
PMID:	36979500

Hypericum foliosum Quality Botanical and Chemical Markers and In Vitro Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities

Caldeira GI, Zhang G, Gouveia LP, Videira M, Serrano R, Silva O

Plants (Basel)

01-Mar-2023

PMCID:	PMC10004786
doi:	10.3390/plants12051087
PMID:	36903946

Xanthones: Biosynthesis and Trafficking in Plants, Fungi and Lichens

Badiali C, Petruccelli V, Brasili E, Pasqua G

Plants (Basel)

04-Feb-2023

PMCID:	PMC9967055
doi:	10.3390/plants12040694
PMID:	36840041

Update of the Xylella spp. host plant database – systematic literature search up to 30 June 2022

Delbianco A, Gibin D, Pasinato L, Boscia D, Morelli M

EFSA J

09-Jan-2023

PMCID:	PMC9827234
doi:	10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7726
PMID:	36628332

Ecological Features and Conservation of Urtica rupestris Guss. (Urticaceae): A Narrow Endemic Species of Sicily

Sciandrello S, Cambria S, Giusso del Galdo G, Minissale P, Puglisi M, Tavilla G, Tomaselli V

Plants (Basel)

29-Dec-2022

PMCID:	PMC9824435
doi:	10.3390/plants12010164
PMID:	36616293

Factors impacting the detection of weed seed contaminants in seed lots

Buddenhagen CE, Hackell D, Henderson HV, Wynne‐Jones B

Pest Manag Sci

11-Nov-2022

PMCID:	PMC10099985
doi:	10.1002/ps.7257
PMID:	36308732

Advancements and future prospective of DNA barcodes in the herbal drug industry

Mahima K, Sunil Kumar KN, Rakhesh KV, Rajeswaran PS, Sharma A, Sathishkumar R

Front Pharmacol

21-Oct-2022

PMCID:	PMC9635000
doi:	10.3389/fphar.2022.947512
PMID:	36339543

Phenolic Acids as Antidepressant Agents

Cordeiro ML, Martins VG, da Silva AP, Rocha HA, Rachetti VD, Scortecci KC

Nutrients

14-Oct-2022

PMCID:	PMC9610055
doi:	10.3390/nu14204309
PMID:	36296993

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.

Name	PubChem ID	Canonical SMILES	MW	Found in	Proof
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Benzoic acids
Benzoic Acid	243	Click to see	122.12	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/S004250100657
> Hydrocarbons / Saturated hydrocarbons / Alkanes
Nonane	8141	Click to see	128.25	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JF020872F
> Hydrocarbons / Unsaturated hydrocarbons / Unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons
1-Octene	8125	Click to see CCCCCCC=C	112.21	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JF020872F
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Bicyclic monoterpenoids
(+-)-alpha-Pinene	6654	Click to see	136.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JF020872F
(1R,5R,7R,8S)-4-hydroxy-8-methyl-1-(2-methylbutanoyl)-3,5,7-tris(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-8-(4-methylpent-3-enyl)bicyclo[3.3.1]non-3-ene-2,9-dione	100925187	Click to see	550.80	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/1057563021000060149
Beta-Pinene	14896	Click to see	136.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JF020872F
Hyperforin	441298	Click to see	536.80	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/1057563021000060149
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Menthane monoterpenoids
Limonene, (+/-)-	22311	Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)C(=C)C	136.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JF020872F
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids
1-Ethenyl-1,2-dimethyl-4-propan-2-ylidene-2-prop-1-en-2-ylcyclohexane	5317024	Click to see	218.38	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JF020872F
2-Isopropenyl-1-methyl-4-(1-methylethylidene)-1-vinylcyclohexane	6432312	Click to see CC(=C1CCC(C(C1)C(=C)C)(C)C=C)C	204.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JF020872F
Caryophyllene,alpha + beta mixt.	5354499	Click to see	204.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JF020872F
gamma-Curcumene	12304273	Click to see	204.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JF020872F
gamma-Muurolene	12313020	Click to see CC1=CC2C(CC1)C(=C)CCC2C(C)C	204.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JF020872F
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Aromadendrane sesquiterpenoids / 5,10-cycloaromadendrane sesquiterpenoids
beta-Gurjunene	6450812	Click to see CC1CCC2C(C2(C)C)C3C1CCC3=C	204.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JF020872F
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Elemane sesquiterpenoids
Beta-Elemene	6918391	Click to see	204.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JF020872F
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Germacrane sesquiterpenoids
(S,1Z,6Z)-8-Isopropyl-1-methyl-5-methylenecyclodeca-1,6-diene	91723653	Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C=CC(CC1)C(C)C	204.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JF020872F
Germacrene D	5317570	Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C=CC(CC1)C(C)C	204.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JF020872F
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Cyclitols and derivatives / Quinic acids and derivatives
Chlorogenic Acid	1794427	Click to see C1C(C(C(CC1(C(=O)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O)O	354.31	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.25.1320 https://doi.org/10.1080/1057563021000060149
Neochlorogenic acid	5280633	Click to see C1C(C(C(CC1(C(=O)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O)O	354.31	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/1057563021000060149 https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.25.1320
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzopyrans / 1-benzopyrans / Xanthones
Euxanthone	5281631	Click to see	228.20	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2000-8542
Mangiferin	5281647	Click to see C1=C2C(=CC(=C1O)O)OC3=C(C2=O)C(=C(C(=C3)O)C4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O	422.30	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-1978(98)00010-6 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962050
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzopyrans / 1-benzopyrans / Xanthones / 2-prenylated xanthones
9H-Xanthen-9-one, 1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxy-2-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-	10404212	Click to see	328.30	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2000-8542
Garcinone B	5495928	Click to see	394.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9452(99)00178-8
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzopyrans / 1-benzopyrans / Xanthones / 8-prenylated xanthones
1,3,6,7-Tetrahydroxy-8-prenylxanthone	15307924	Click to see CC(=CCC1=C(C(=CC2=C1C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O)C	328.30	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2000-8542
gamma-Mangostin	5464078	Click to see CC(=CCC1=C(C2=C(C=C1O)OC3=C(C2=O)C(=C(C(=C3)O)O)CC=C(C)C)O)C	396.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/S004250000394 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9452(99)00178-8 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2000-8542 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0014-5793(97)01507-X
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzopyrans / 1-benzopyrans / Xanthones / Pyranoxanthones
5,9,11-Trihydroxy-3,3-dimethyl-10-(2-methylbut-3-en-2-yl)pyrano[3,2-a]xanthen-12-one	101589679	Click to see CC1(C=CC2=C(O1)C(=CC3=C2C(=O)C4=C(O3)C=C(C(=C4O)C(C)(C)C=C)O)O)C	394.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2000-8542
Paxanthone	71591732	Click to see	340.30	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9452(99)00178-8
Toxyloxanthone B	14886044	Click to see	326.30	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9452(99)00178-8
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids
Caffeic Acid	689043	Click to see	180.16	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1081/JLC-100101655
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols
Kaempferol	5280863	Click to see	286.24	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/1057563021000060149
Quercetin	5280343	Click to see	302.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.25.1320 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JEP.2004.02.004 https://doi.org/10.1081/JLC-100101655
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-((2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl)oxychromen-4-one	51402807	Click to see	464.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.25.1320 https://doi.org/10.1080/1057563021000060149
2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one	5317364	Click to see	436.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/1057563021000060149 https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.25.1320 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JEP.2004.02.004
Hyperoside	5281643	Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O	464.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/1057563021000060149 https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.25.1320
Quercetin 3-xyloside	5321278	Click to see	434.30	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1081/JLC-100101655
Quercetin-3-D-xyloside	5320863	Click to see	434.30	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1081/JLC-100101655
Quercitrin	5280459	Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2=C(OC3=CC(=CC(=C3C2=O)O)O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O	448.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/1057563021000060149 https://doi.org/10.1081/JLC-100101655
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Sulfated flavonoids / 3-sulfated flavonoids
Quercetin 3-sulfate	5280362	Click to see	382.30	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.25.1320 https://doi.org/10.1080/1057563021000060149 https://doi.org/10.1081/JLC-100101655

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Hypericum androsaemum

Table of Contents

Details Top

Ethnobotanical Use Top

General Uses Top

Synonyms Top

Common names Top

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

Germination/Propagation Top

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Links to other databases Top

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Scientific Literature Top

Phytochemical Profile Top

Gallery Top

Contributors Top

Collections Top