Acta Pharm. 50 (2000) 65-68

Short communication  
 

The dynamics and content of hypericins in Hypericum perforatum L.
and Hypericum maculatum Crantz growing in Bulgaria


GERASSIM KITANOV

Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
Received September 29, 1999      Accepted February 14, 2000

Studies of accumulation dynamics and of total content of hypericins in medicinal plants Hypericum perforatum L. and H. maculatum Crantz (Hypericaceae) were performed by spectroscopic method. In the both species highest amounts of hypericins were found at the stage of budding and blossoming. The content of hypericins in 28 different regional samples of H. perforatum varied from 0.07 to 0.17%, whereas the content of these compounds in five samples of H. maculatum var. maculatum was lower 0.05-0.10%. The lowest content (0.05%) of hypericins was established in eight samples from H. maculatum var. immaculatum Jord. et Koz. No correlation between the content of hypericins, altitude of harvesting and the regional origin of the plants was found.


Keywords: Hypericum perforatum L., Hypericum maculatum Crantz (Hypericaceae), hypericins, dynamics of accumulation