Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of some Hypericum species: A comparative study with H. perforatum

This study was designed to determine the polyphenolic contents of the extracts and to evaluate the anti oxidant activity of Hypericum origanifolium Willd. and H. montbretii Spach. (Guttiferae (Hypericaceae)), The possible composition activity relationship was investigated and the results were compared with that of H. perforatum L. Methanol, ethyl acetate, and water were used as solvents to produce extracts from flowers and leaves of the plants. The determination of phenolic acids in the Hypericum species was achieved by using a modified Reverse phase-High pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method adopting an internal standard. It was observed that chlorogenic and caffeic acids were higher in all extracts. The highest values were found in ethyl acetate extracts for total phenolic content as gallic acid and for the flavonoids and flavonols as rutin equivalents (all measurements are mg/g), respectively. Hypericum extracts were evaluated for their radical scavenging activity by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and their oxidative stability by the Rancimat method. Results were compared with Butyllated hidroxy toluene (BHT), a synthetic antioxidant, and with a reference plant, H. perforatum. A good correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenol content in the extracts was observed. In an antioxidant activity assay, the leaf extracts of H. origanifolium were found to be two or three times more active than those of BHT, H. perforatum, and H. montbretii leaves and flowers. In an antiradical activity assay, leaves and flowers of H. montbretii and leaves of H. origanifolium were the most active at the tested concentrations, exhibiting an activity comparable to that of the positive control BHT, but all of the extracts, with the exception of the leaves of H. montbretii, showed activity weaker than the leaves and flowers of H. perforatum, the reference plant.