The content of hypericins and phloroglucinols in Hypericum perforatum L. seedlings at early stage of development

The ability for synthesis of hypericins and phloroglucinols was studied in in vitro grown Hypericum perferatum seedlings. HPLC analysis of hypericin, pseudohypericin and their immediate precursors protohypericin and protopseudohypericin, and phloroglucinols, hyperforin and adhyperforin, revealed great intraspecific variation. A significant correlation was found between the total content of hypericins and phloroglucinols and between the content of hypericin/protohypericin and pseudohypericin/protopseudohypericin seedlings at early stage of dohypericin. The presence of hyperforin and adhyperforin was first proved in the Hypericum Per development. Peculiarities in reproduction pathways do not primarily affect the formation of secondary metabolites but significantly contribute to genetic variation. Genetic factors as ploidy level, inheritance of the mode of reproduction, coexistence of several reproductive pathways in a particular plant that contribute to chemical variation, which is expressed in the early stages of ontogeny are discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.