Straightforward Preparation of Naphtodianthrone-Rich Ethanolic Extracts from Wild St. John’s Wort

Abstract

Separation of naphtodianthrones (NTs) from Hypericum perforatum L. (aerial part of St. John’s Wort) is still topical due to some hard-to-beat medicinal attributes of these bioactive compounds. Unfortunately, their low bioavailability (0.06%–0.4%) complicates the extraction process. Therefore, developing straightforward and lower-cost methodologies for NT separation is still a priority. In support of this purpose, for preparing NT formulations from flowers and leaves of wild St. John’s Wort (hyperici herba), a cutoff preparative methodology is described herein. Combining Soxhlet extraction and reflux extraction, some concentrated and rather pure NT ethanolic-based formulations without chlorophyl and grease were obtained.

Keywords:

• ethanolic formulations
• medicinal attributes
• naphtodianthrones
• Soxhlet separation
• wild St. John’s Wort

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank UEFISCDI, the Romanian National Agency, for funding the Project PN II- Partnership Project no. 117/2012 “SPOFLORAHYP” and PN II TE Project no. 44/2015 “BIOGELFARM”.