Variability of Hypericins and Hyperforin in Hypericum Species from the Sicilian Flora

Within Sicilian flora, the genus Hypericum (Guttiferae) includes 10 native species, the most popular of which isH. perforatum. Hypericum's most investigated active compounds belong to naphtodianthrones (hypericin,pseudohypericin) and phloroglucinols (hyperforin, adhyperforin), and the commercial value of the drug is gradedaccording to its total hypericin content. Ethnobotanical sources attribute the therapeutic properties recognizedfor H. perforatum, also to other Hypericum species. However, their smaller distribution inside the territorysuggests that an industrial use of such species, when collected from the wild, would result in an unacceptabledepletion of their natural stands. This study investigated about the potential pharmacological properties of 48accessions from six native species of Hypericum, including H. perforatum and five 'minor' species, also comparing,when possible, wild and cultivated sources. The variability in the content of active metabolites was remarkablyhigh, and the differences within the species were often comparable to the differences among species. Nodifference was enlightened between wild and cultivated plants. A carefully planned cultivation of Hypericumseems the best option to achieve high and steady biomass yields, but there is a need for phytochemical studies,aimed to identify for multiplication the genotypes with the highest content of the active metabolites.