Anthocyanins and xanthones in the calli and regenerated shoots of Hypericum perforatum var. angustifolium (sin. Frohlich) Borkh

The present paper reports on the production of anthocyanins and xanthones in different in vitro systems of Hypericum perforatum var. angustifolium (sin. Frohlich) Borkh. Undifferentiated calli and regenerated shoots at different developmental stages were analyzed by applying an extractive and an analytical procedure capable of detecting and quantifying anthocyanins. The findings revealed, for the first time, the co-presence of hypericins and anthocyanins in shoots at initial and more developed stages of H. perforatum var. angustifolium L. Moreover, a high production of xanthones was found in the undifferentiated calli. (C) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.