Morphological And Phytochemical Investigations On St.John`s Wort (Hypericum Spp.), a Potential Source Of Ant-HIV Compounds
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Date
2003
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Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara
Abstract
Renowned laboratories throughout the world have been makuu; uucnse search hi
detect and isolate potential chemicals from plants for curing AIDS. llvpcrtcmn is :\11
important genera yielding hypericin,a potential anti -I-IIV chemical I lvpcricin ll:l~
. been reported from many exotic Hypericum species. Investigations on the presence \Ii'
hypericin in the indigenous flora (H mysorense and H jU/JOl1iClIl1I) arc i:ldiJl~' I kill"
the present study entitled "Morphological and Phytochemical IJl\CSII!':lllllll~ .'11
St.Johns Wort (Hypericum spp.), a potential source or anti-HI V compounds" \I;I~
constituted.
Two species of Hypericum were located in Kerala; H mysorcnsc .u the high
ranges of Idukki and Wayanad districts and H. japonicum in Wayanad district. The
natural habitat characters of H mysorense were studied at Vattavada in IduUI
Phytosociological parameters such as density, abundance and per cent frequency were
determined by quatrat studies. H mysorense was often present or seldom present
,
along with Pteridium aquilinum, Eucalyptus grandis, Lantana camara, Strobilanthus
spp, Andropogon lividis and Chrysopogon zeylanicus in the high altitucle regions of
Vattavada panchayat of Idukki district Chrysopogon zeylanicus is the dominant
species in the eco system. H. mysorense is a shrub with stiff branches while H
japonicum is a prostrate herb growing in marshy lands. Translucent glands were either
streaks or dots in H. mysorense while it was pellucid dots in H japonicum. Stem
anatomy of H mysorense revealed presence of "type B" secretory canals whereas it
was absent in H japonicum.
Histochemical tests indicated the presence of lignin in the leaf,stem and root
of H. mysorense and H. japonicum. Leaf, stem and root of H. japonicum had
phenolic compounds while there was no indication for the presence of these
compounds in the stem of H. mysorense. The primary metabolites like starch, total
sugars,protein and total free amino acids on leaf, stem and root were quantified.
Qualitative test for anthraquinone was negative in both the species. When tested
using TLC for the presence of hypericin ,no spots corresponding to In \ .iluc o !
standard hypericin were observed in H. mysorense and H. japonicum samples
Commercial extract of H. perforatum (EleveĀ®,) had 0.22 to 0 25 per cell!
hypericin. Even though the samples of the indigenous Hypericum sP/' (//.
mysorense and H. japonicum ) were negative for hypericin - the target anti-l ll V
compound, they were indicative for the presence of anthronoid derivati ves. These
anthronoid derivatives could be the precursors or intermediary compounds for the
hypericin synthesis in the plant metabolism. These compounds need further
analysis for identification and characterization for anti-HfV property.
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172073