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Extracts from St John's wort and their antimicrobial activity
Author(s) -
Avato P.,
Raffo F.,
Guglielmi G.,
Vitali C.,
Rosato A.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.1430
Subject(s) - hyperforin , antimicrobial , hypericum perforatum , hypericin , hypericum , traditional medicine , petroleum ether , chemistry , cereus , bacteria , biology , botany , bacillus cereus , chromatography , organic chemistry , pharmacology , medicine , extraction (chemistry) , genetics
In an effort to carry out a more in‐depth investigation on the antimicrobial properties of H. perforatum , we have assayed different extracts (MeOH; petroleum ether; CHCl 3 and EtOAc) from the aerial parts of the plant against selected microorganisms. Growth inhibition was observed only for Gram‐positive bacteria, B. subtilis and B. cereus being the most susceptible to the tested drugs. The Hypericum extract obtained with EtOAc was the most active. The main constituents of this extract, as determined by HPLC analysis, were avonoids, hypericins and hyperforins. Incubation of the selected microorganisms with the pure chemicals resulted in a signicant inhibition of their growth by hypericin, hyperforin and its stable dicyclohexilammonium salt. Flavonoids appeared inactive at all. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.