## 1 Introduction  
St. John's wort is one of the most commonly used medicinal plants in the world due to its well-documented pharmacological activity, including antidepressant, antiviral, and antibacterial effects [1]. There are numerous products containing _Hypericum perforatum_ in the form of dried aerial parts or various types of extracts that are used as phytopharmaceuticals and nutraceuticalids, some of which are protected by patents. Most commercially available St. John's wort preparations in Poland and Europe are ethanol-water extracts or dry extracts contained in solid forms such as tablets, capsules, or granules. Water infusions are currently used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, while ethanol extracts containing hypericin and hyperforin affect the central nervous system [2]. The external use of _H. perforatum_ preparations, mainly in oil or tinctures, has a long tradition. St. John'sword preparations, such as _Oleun Hyperici_ (oil macroates) and organic extracts, are often used externally in traditional medicine. The red, oily extract has traditionally been used to treat wounds, burns, and bruises. Products for external use also promote the healing of chronic and acute lesions and are indicated for the treatment of skin defects associated with skin disorders. The antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties, as well as the stimulation of tissue growth and differentiation, make St. John's word useful in dermatology, including in the treatment of atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, herpes infections, and skin cancer [3]. This plant is also a component of some cosmetic formulations, where it plays a role as an antiaging and exfoliating agent. It strengthens the barrier function of the skin, inhibits inflammatory mediators, protects against UV radiation, promotes epidermal regeneration, and inhibits tyrosinase, collagenase, and elastase [4]. Table 1 presents the use of various St. John's word preparations in the treatment of dermatological diseases and cosmetology. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline \hline
**Type of Preparation** & & **External Use** & **Ref.** \\ \hline oil extract & \(\bullet\) & diabetic surgical wounds, rats & \\  & \(\bullet\) & wound healing of diabetic oral & \\  & & mucosa, rats & \\  & \(\bullet\) & palatal mucosa wounds, rabbits & \\ oil extract & \(\bullet\) & incisional wounds on the & [5; 6; 7; 8; 9] \\  & & interscapular region, rats & \\  & \(\bullet\) & burn wounds, rats & \\  & \(\bullet\) & pressure sores in intensive care & \\  & & unit patient & \\ \hline oil extract-incorporated & & antimicrobial test (_Escherichia coli_ and & \\ chitosan film for wound & _Staphylococcus aureus_), potential and & \\ dressing applications & & novel biomaterial for wound & \\  & & healing applications & \\ \hline oil extract-incorporated & & episiotomy wound, & \\ chitosan film for wound & & primiparous women & \\  & \(\bullet\) & patients with mild to moderate & \\  & & plaque-type psoriasis on both sides & \\  & & of the body, without medical & \\  & & treatment for the past 2 months & \\ \hline ethanolic extract & \(\bullet\) & wound healing activity, chicken & \\  & & embryonic fibroblasts & \\  & & psoriasis-like keratinocytes in vitro & [13; 14; 15] \\  & & and ex vivo & \\  & & anti-elastase and anti-collagenase & \\ \hline Gels & & & \\ \hline bigels containing either & & & \\  “free” extract or extract & & & \\ encapsulated in & & skin excision wound model, rats & [16] \\ nanostructured & & & \\ lipid carriers & & & \\ \hline gel containing niosomes & & & \\ with 80\% ethanolic extracts & & wound healing activity, mongrel dogs & [17] \\ \hline gel contained & & & \\ methanolic extract & & burn wounds, rats & [18] \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Topical uses for St. John’s word products in dermatology and cosmetology.