Influence of an aqueous extract of Hypericum perforatum (Hypericin) on the survival of Escherichia coli AB1157 and on the electrophoretic mobility of pBSK plasmid DNA

Abstract

Hiperico (Hypericum perforatum or St John's worth) has been widely used as an herbal medicine to treat depression. Hypericin is the main chemical compound of hiperico. Stannous chloride (SnCl2) is the most used reducing agent in nuclear medicine. The aim of this work was to verify the effect of a hiperico extract on the survival of Escherichia coli AB1157 and on the plasmid DNA topology. Exponentially E. coli AB1157 cultures were incubated with SnCl2 in the presence or absence of hypericin. Aliquots were spread onto Petri dishes containing solidified rich medium, the colonies units were counted after overnight and the survival fraction was calculated. Plasmid DNA samples were incubated with SnCl2 in presence or absence of hypericin extract during 40 minutes, 0.8% agarose gel electrophoresis was performed, the gel was stained with ethidium bromide and the plasmid topological forms (bands) were visualized. The results revealed that hiperico extract is neither capable of altering the survival of E. coli cells nor the plasmid DNA topology but it may have protected these cells against the SnCl2 action. The data suggest absence of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of the aqueous hiperico extract and a protective effect on E. coli cells against the action of SnCl 2.