title: Changes in the contents of main secondary metabolites in two Turkish Hypericum species during plant development.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The genus Hypericum (Guttiferae) has received considerable scientific interest as a source of biologically active compounds.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study determined the morphogenetic and ontogenetic variation in the main bioactive compounds of two Hypericum species, namely, Hypericum aviculariifolium subsp. depilatum var. depilatum (Freyn and Bornm.) Robson var. depilatum and Hypericum orientale L. through HPLC analyses of whole plants as well as individual plant parts (stems, leaves, and reproductive tissues).
  
  
  METHODS
  The plant materials were harvested at five phenological stages: vegetative, floral budding, full flowering, fresh fruiting, and mature fruiting; dried at room temperature, then assayed for chemical content.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In H. aviculariifolium, no kaempferol accumulation was observed and the highest level of hypericin, pseudohypericin, and quercitrin was reached at full flowering (0.71, 1.78, and 4.15 mg/g DW, respectively). Plants, harvested at floral budding produced the highest amount of rutin, hyperoside, and isoquercitrine (32.96, 2.42, 1.52 mg/g DW, respectively). H. orientale did not produce hypericin, pseudohypericin, or kaempferol. Rutin, hyperoside, and isoquercetine levels were the highest at floral development (1.76, 11.85, and 1.21 mg/g DW, respectively) and plants harvested at fresh fruiting produced the highest amount of quercitrine and quercetine (0.20 and 1.30 mg/g DW, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the first time, the chemical composition of the Turkish species of Hypericum was monitored during the course of ontogenesis to determine the ontogenetic and morphogenetic changes in chemical content.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plant material should be harvested during flower ontogenesis for medicinal purposes in which the content of many bioactive substances tested reached their highest level.
authors: Ondokuz Mayis University, Vocational High School of Bafra, Samsun, Turkey. cuneytc@omu.edu.tr
authors: Cuneyt
authors: C
authors: Cirak
authors: Jolita
authors: J
authors: Radusiene
authors: Necdet
authors: N
authors: Camas
authors: Omer
authors: O
authors: Caliskan
authors: Mehmet Serhat
authors: MS
authors: Odabas
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019448:Ethnobotany; D044948:Flavonols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D035264:Flowers / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D020902:Hypericum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D010569:Perylene / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis; D013045:Species Specificity; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013729:Terpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D002934:Cinnamates; D044948:Flavonols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013729:Terpenes; D010569:Perylene