title: Hypericum perforatum: Influences of the habitat on chemical composition, photo-induced cytotoxicity, and antiradical activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypericin, isolated from Hypericum perforatum L. and about another 300 Hypericum species (Guttiferae), is one of the most powerful photosensitizers found in nature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the variability of chemical composition and biological activities of four H. perforatum samples, collected at different altitudes in the South Apennine of Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  MTT assay was used to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of different samples concentrations (0.6-100 µg/mL) after irradiation at 365 nm. The inhibition of nitric oxide production was evaluated after 24 h of incubation using the macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 and sample solutions ranging from 12.5 to 1000 µg/mL. Antioxidant activities were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and β-carotene bleaching test (ranges were 12.5-1000 and 1-400 µg/mL, respectively). Chemical composition was evaluated through HPTLC, and different contents of hypericin and rutin have been observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most phototoxic sample was collected from Zumpano (no. 1 at 370 m), with IC50 values of 24.61 ± 0.02 μg/mL. Sample no. 1 showed also the best radical scavenging activity (IC50 value of 9.18 ± 0.03 μg/mL) and the best antioxidant activity (IC50 value of 10.04 ± 0.03 μg/mL after 30 min of incubation). Best activity of extract no. 1 was well in accordance with chemical data, including the phenolic total content and particular metabolome profile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper confirms the usefulness in maintaining the exploration of H. perforatum activities, in order to confirm its potentiality as a multipurpose plant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Calabria , Rende , Italy and.
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marrelli
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Conforti
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toniolo
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Statti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menichini
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D000818:Animals; D000873:Anthracenes; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D017753:Ecosystem; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D020902:Hypericum / Q000737:chemistry*; D007558:Italy; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010569:Perylene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D012431:Rutin / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010636:Phenols; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D012431:Rutin; D010569:Perylene; C004965:hypericin
keywords: Anti-inflammatory; HPTLC; antioxidant; hypericin; melanoma; phenolic compounds; phototoxicity