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Changes in essential oil composition in Saint John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) aerial parts during its phenological cycle

2004; Elsevier BV; Volume: 32; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.bse.2003.12.005

1873-2925

Isabelle Laffont‐Schwob, Jean‐Marie Bessière, Véronique Masotti, Josette Viano,

Phytochemistry and Biological Activities

The quantitative and qualitative variations of the essential oil from the aerial parts of Hypericum perforatum were examined. Plant material was harvested at different phenological stages (i.e. vegetative, floral budding, flowering, and fruiting stages) of the life cycle of the species. Analysis by GC and GC/MS of the essential oils enabled us to identify 69 of the 97 components. In all the oils analysed, the main components were caryophyllene oxide, β-caryophyllene, spathulenol, 1-tetradecanol, β-funebrene, 1-dodecanol, and γ-muurolene; 64 of the identified compounds were common to all these oils. However, monoterpenoids composition and levels of aliphatic alcohols varied with the phenological cycle and the number of compounds detected increased during ontogenesis.