Ontogenetic Variation Regarding Hypericin and Hyperforin Levels in Four Accessions of Hypericum perforatum L.

SUMMARY

Hypericin and hyperforin contents of isolated flowers and capsules, collected from 4 different Hypericum perforatum accessions at four developmental stages, i.e., (A) the stage of closed buds with yellow petals already visible, (B) the stage of fully opened flowers, (C) the stage of green capsules and (D) the stage of brown capsules, were determined via HPLC. Principally, hypericin contents increased with advancing of the stages, whereas hyperforin decreased. However, genotype specific deviations were observed, e.g., one genotype showing a low and relatively stable hyperforin content throughout all stages of development or another genotype revealing similar hypericin contents in stage (A) and (B).

KEYWORDS:

• Hypericum perforatum
• hypericin
• hyperforin
• genetic variation