Hypericum perforatum (flowering tops)

Nomenclature

Hypericum perforatum L.   Clusiaceae  
Standardized common name (English): St John's wort

Botanical Voucher Specimen

Source: Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories http://www.alkemist.com	Source: Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories http://www.alkemist.com	Source: Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories http://www.alkemist.com

Macroscopic Descriptions

Hypericum perforatum growing in the field Source: Roy Upton, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia® http://www.herbal-ahp.org/	Hypericum perforatum flower close-up. Note the black dots on the petals' margin only. Source: American Herbal Pharmacopoeia® http://www.herbal-ahp.org/	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/	Hypericum perforatum stem showing opposite ridges, a defining characteristic of the species. Source: American Herbal Pharmacopoeia® http://www.herbal-ahp.org/

Microscopic Characteristics

Oil glands with red pigment and also of importance, a three pored pollen grain that shows smooth and faintly warted exine of Hypericum perforatum. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories Oil glands with red pigment of Hypericum perforatum viewed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Solution. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories http://www.alkemist.com Three pored pollen grain showing smooth and faintly warted exine of Hypericum perforatum viewed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Solution. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories http://www.alkemist.com St. John's Wort, Hyperici herba secretory cell Source: Claudia Borst, PhytoLab http://www.phytolab.com/en.html St. John's Wort, Hyperici herba pollen grain Source: Claudia Borst, PhytoLab http://www.phytolab.com/en.html St. John's Wort, Hyperici herba hypericin gland Source: Claudia Borst, PhytoLab http://www.phytolab.com/en.html St. John's Wort, Hyperici herba tracheidal vessels with pitted walls Source: Claudia Borst, PhytoLab http://www.phytolab.com/en.html

High Performance Thin Layer Chromatographic Identification

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): 3 μL Hypericin ~ 0.1% in Methanol 3 μL Hypericum perforatum-1 (herb) 3 μL Hypericum perforatum-2 (herb) 3 μL Hypericum perforatum-3 (herb) 3 μL Hypericum perforatum-3 (herb) 3 μL Hypericum perforatum-4 (herb) 3 μL Hypericum perforatum-5 (herb) 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