title: Variability in the content of the constituents of Hypericum perforatum L. and some commercial extracts.
abstract: Seven samples of Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John's wort) were collected throughout Tuscany; the dried extracts were assayed to determine the concentration of the constituents. Total flavonol content ranged from 4.58% to 15.90%; hypericins ranged from 0.05% to 0.11%; and hyperforins ranged from 1.37% to 20.80%. In addition, four commercially dried extracts were analyzed using the same high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method; their flavonol contents varied from 10.64% to 15.01%, hypericins varied from 0.03% to 0.20%, and hyperforins varied from 1.18% to 6.54%. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the contents of the different constituents depending on environmental factors and drying and storage conditions of the wild samples. In addition, the contents of the constituents of the products available to the consumer that were related to quality and the relation of this to safety and efficacy were also evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy. mc.bergonzi@unifi.it
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bergonzi
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bilia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallori
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guerrini
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Vincieri
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000873:Anthracenes / Q000032:analysis; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000032:analysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004356:Drug Storage; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D020902:Hypericum / Q000737:chemistry*; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000032:analysis; D010569:Perylene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D010696:Phloroglucinol / Q000032:analysis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis; D012997:Solvents; D013472:Sunlight
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D010569:Perylene; C004965:hypericin; D010696:Phloroglucinol