Assessment of Authenticity of Market Samples of Hypericum using Phytochemical Fingerprinting Tools

Aims: Hypericum perforatum L., known as “Hofarighun” is a widely used herbal drug in Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM). Detection of non-relevant plants, instead of this species, in the herbal market encourages the need for the establishment of it’s chemical authentication and standardization, through implying rapid and efficient phytochemical techniques.

Study Design: Twelve Hypericum samples were acquired from traditional medicine markets of different regions of Iran (Tehran, Sanandaj, Mashhad, Kerman, Bandar Abbas, Ahvaz, Yazd, Babol, Yasuj, Shiraz (Chehel Giah), Shiraz (Kazerun Gate), and Shiraz (Adloo Zerehi), based on microscopic characterization. Positive control was taken in the form of cultivated specimen of H. perforatum.

Place and Duration of Study: Study was performed in Medicinal plants processing Research Center, SUMS, Shiraz in the months between February to December 2021.

Methodology: Essential oil samples were injected into a gas chromatograph (GC) and compounds were identified as per the spectra obtained. Total phenol, flavonoid and HPTLC analysis of samples were also done.

Results: α-pinene was found in highest proportion in majority of samples i.e. 35.55-63.69%. However other compounds such as 1-dodecanol (10.82%), caryophyllene (15.87%) and β-cubebene (15.14%) were also analyzed in samples and the cultivated sample respectively. Total phenol and flavonoid content among the Hypericum extracts were found to be between 50.31±3.22 to 262.76±8.12 mg Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE)/g of Ext. and 13.47±1.68 to 79.26±5.78 mg Quercetin Equivalent (QE)/g of Ext., respectively.

Conclusion: The noticeable findings of present study can be used as a framework for authentication of Hypericum perforatum samples. The methods used were found to be feasible and efficient in detection of adultrations and may contribute to minimize the safety and efficacy concerns over the samples available in the traditional herbal pharmacies.