Officials have issued an urgent recall of the tablets after six batches, sold at some of Britain's biggest retailers, were found to be spoiled with the toxin, increasing the risk of liver problems.
The tablets have been in circulation since 2013 and the affected batches are due to expire between May and August 2016.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is asking people to check their medical cabinets, batch numbers and not to take the potentially harmful tablets.
The six batches include 14279 (Asda St John's Wort), 14255 (HRI Good Mood), 14662 (HRI Good Mood), 14498 (HRI Good Mood), 14660 (HRI Good Mood) and 14523 (Superdrug St John's Wort).
The recalled batches were said to be mixed with poisonous weeds when the plants were harvested.
The tablets have levels of toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) above the recommended levels.
PAs are known to cause liver problems in humans.
Gerald Heddell, director of inspection, enforcement and standards division at MHRA, said: "Symptoms of liver disorders include yellowing of the whites of the eyes and/or skin, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, abdominal pain and unusual tiredness.
"If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should tell your doctor straight away."
The MHRA say the recall is precautionary and it hadn't received any reports of people suffering poisoning.
St John's Wort (hypericum perforatum) is a herbal remedy used to treat mild depression, anxiety and sleep problems.
People should return any of the affected packs to The Herbal Research Company Ltd c/o QP-Services UK Ltd, 46 High Street, Yatton, BS49 4HJ, UK. Call 01934 838820 or e-mail recall@QP-Services.com to receive a pre-paid stamped addressed envelope.
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