Tocotrienols in Eleven Species of Hypericum Genus Leaves

Saint John's worts or goatweeds are mostly perennial flowering plants in the Hypericaceae family, formerly under the Clusiaceae family. Teas and macerations of the plants are common in traditional medicines and modern depression and cancer therapies. The most notable bioactive compounds in Hypericum are hyperforin and hypericin. While Hypericum contains a variety of carotenoid and phenolic compounds, which are well documented, there is little available information on tocopherols and almost none on tocotrienols. Considering the frequency of tocotrienol derivatives in Clusiaceae species, this study investigates and reports the presence of tocotrienols in eleven Hypericum species' leaves: H. hircinum, H. hookerianum, H. calycinum, H. xylosteifolium, H. densifolium, H. prolificum, H. kalmianum, H. frondosum, H. olympicum, and two hybrids: H. x moserianum and H x 'Rowallane'. Eight tocopherol and tocotrienol forms (alpha, beta, gamma, delta) were detected in the leaves, predominantly containing alpha-tocopherol. Tocotrienol content was most significant in Myriandra section species and was highest in H. prolificum (22.90 +/- 0.63 mg 100 g-1), while the highest tocotrienol proportion was observed in H. x 'Rowallane' (54.12% of total tocochromanols) and H. prolificum (37.27% of total tocochromanols). The results demonstrated significant tocochromanol accumulation in Hypericum leaves.