Determination of hypericin content in Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra (Hypericaceae) growing wild in Jordan

Abstract

Hypericin content of methanolic extracts of dried flowers, leaves, stems, and roots of Hypericum triquetrifolium (Turra) were determined by HPLC. Conversion of protohypericin to hypericin was achieved by exposing samples to light for 30 min immediately before HPLC analysis. External standard calibration was used to quantify hypericin. Leaves showed the highest hypericin content of 0.36% w/w. Total aerial parts contained 0.43% w/w of hypericin. The relatively high hypericin content of the H. triquetrifolium in this study encourages the introduction, cultivation, and biological evaluation of hypericum specie in Jordan.

Keywords:

• Jordan medicinal plants
• Hypericum triquetrifolium
• Peter's wort
• Hypericin content
• Hypericaceae

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Mr. Farooq Zgool and Ead Hamza for their technical help on HPLC.