Secondary metabolites of Hypericum orientale L. growing in Turkey: variation among populations and plant parts

The present study was conducted to determine the variation in the content of several plant chemicals, namely hyperforin, hypericin, pseudohypericin, chlorogenic acid, rutin, hyperoside, isoquercetine, kaempferol, quercitrine and quercetine among ten Hypericum orientale L. populations from Northern Turkey. The aerial parts representing a total of 30 individuals were collected at full flowering and dissected into floral, leaf and stem tissues. After dried at room temperature, the plant materials were assayed for chemical contents by HPLC. The populations varied significantly in chemical contents. Among different plant parts, the flowers were found to be the principle organ for hyperforin, hypericin, pseudohypericin and rutin accumulations while the rest of the chemicals were accumulated mainly in leaves in all growing localities. The chemical variation among the populations and plant parts is discussed as being possibly the result of different genetic, environmental and morphological factors.