Source: Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories http://www.alkemist.com ^[1]

Source: Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories http://www.alkemist.com ^[2]

Source: Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories http://www.alkemist.com ^[3]

Hypericum perforatum growing in the field
Source: Roy Upton, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia® http://www.herbal-ahp.org/ ^[4]

Hypericum perforatum flower close-up. Note the black dots on the petals' margin only.
Source: American Herbal Pharmacopoeia® http://www.herbal-ahp.org/ ^[5]

Hypericum perforatum leaves with the characteristic black dots on the margin and translucent dots on the leaf body.
Source: American Herbal Pharmacopoeia® http://www.herbal-ahp.org/ ^[6]

Hypericum perforatum stem showing opposite ridges, a defining characteristic of the species.
Source: American Herbal Pharmacopoeia® http://www.herbal-ahp.org/ ^[7]

Hypericum perforatum HPTLC ID - Natural Product Reagent + PEG UV 365 nm

St. John's Wort (herb) (Hypericum perforatum)

Lane Assignments Lanes, from left to right (Track, Volume, Sample):

1. 3 μL Hypericin ~ 0.1% in Methanol
2. 3 μL Hypericum perforatum-1 (herb)
3. 3 μL Hypericum perforatum-2 (herb)
4. 3 μL Hypericum perforatum-3 (herb)
5. 3 μL Hypericum perforatum-3 (herb)
6. 3 μL Hypericum perforatum-4 (herb)
7. 3 μL Hypericum perforatum-5 (herb)
8. 1 μL Rutin, Caffeic Acid, Hyperoside, Chlorogenic Acid ~ 0.1% in Methanol

Reference materials used here have been authenticated by macroscopic, microscopic &/or TLC studies according to the reference source cited below held at Alkemists Laboratories, Costa Mesa, CA. 

Stationary Phase Silica gel 60, F254, 10 x 10 cm HPTLC plates 

Mobile Phase ethyl acetate: Acetic acid: HCOOH: H2O [10/1.1/1.1/2.4] 

Sample Preparation Method 0.3 g + 3 ml 70% grain EtOH sonicated + heated @ 50° C ~ 1 hr 

Detection Method Natural Product Reagent + PEG -> UV 365 nm 

Reference see British Pharmacopoeia, 2003

Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories ^[15]