Examination of some quality analysis carried out to the determination of standardization of St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) oil used in traditional medicine applications

Abstract

St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) plant is among the medicinal plants used as pharmaceutical raw material with traditional methods for more than 2000 years. St. John's Wort plant and its medicinal oil (maserate) obtained from it, usage area is increasing day by day in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries thanks to the important bioactive components. The pharmacologically important component of the plant is known as hypericin. This study was carried out in Selcuk University, Faculty of Agriculture, Medical and Endemic Plants Training and Research Farm, and examined the effect of different holding environments (sun, shade), harvest periods (25% flowering period, 50% flowering period and full flowering period) and drying methods (wet herb, faded herb and dried herb) on the amount of hypericin in St. John's Wort and its medicinal oil. According to the results of the analysis, the highest amount of hypericin in St. John's Wort herb was determined as 0.32% in full flowering period. The highest amount of hypericin in St. John's Wort oils was determined as 271.92 mg/L in fresh herb during the full flowering period. According to the results of the research, the harvesting periods are effective on the amount of hypericin, and it can be suggested that the wet herb, which is harvested in full bloom and hold, should be macerated with olive oil in the sun to obtain St. John's Wort oil with high hypericin content.