Variation of bioactive secondary metabolites in Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra from wild populations of Turkey

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the variation in the content of hyperforin, hypericin and pseudohypericin in Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra growing wild in four locations of Turkey. The aerial parts, representing a total of 30 individuals, were collected at full flowering and dissected into floral, leaf and stem tissues. After drying at room temperature, the plant materials were assayed for their chemical contents by HPLC. The populations varied significantly in chemical contents. Hyperforin content ranged from 0.05 to 0.56 mg/g, hypericin from 0.74-1.98 mg/g, and pseudohypericin from 0.72-2.26 mg/g, dry weight. Among the different plant parts, the flowers were found to be the principle organ for hyperforin accumulation, while hypericin and pseudohypericin were accumulated mainly in leaves. Such kinds of data could be useful for optimizing the processing methodology of wild-harvested plant material and phytochemical evaluation of H. triquetrifolium.