Characterization of Tocochromanols in Wild Hypericum perforatum Populations in Latvia

St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) is an ornamental and medical plant, distributed worldwide, which is rich in diverse secondary metabolites. The discovery of the presence of tocotrienols (rare prenyllipids) in H. perforatum marks a new chapter demanding a deeper understanding of the accumulation of these lipophilic biomolecules. Three wild St. John’s wort populations were harvested in Latvia at three different locations from 2022 to 2024 and separated into stems, leaves, flower buds, and flowers. Plant samples were freeze-dried, ground, saponified, and analyzed for tocochromanol profiles using RP-LC-FLD and confirmed by an LC-MS system. Eight tocochromanols, four tocopherols (Ts), and four tocotrienols (T3s), were identified and confirmed in H. perforatum. Leaves were dominated by α-T (82%), and flower buds and flowers by δ-T3 (44%); thus, the lowest concentrations of tocotrienols were recorded in leaves and the highest in flower buds. The other tocotrienols were present as follows: α-T3 > γ-T3 > β-T3. The location of H. perforatum, the year of harvest, the aerial part of the plant, and their interactions all significantly influenced the content of tocochromanols (p < 0.05). The present study demonstrates relevant discoveries regarding the accumulation of tocotrienols in various St. John’s wort organs and their variability.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Horticulturae
Published
2025-02-15
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11020205
Citations
4
Primary Topic
Natural Compound Pharmacology Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
7.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Characterization of Tocochromanols in Wild Hypericum perforatum Populations in Latvia

Magdalena Człapka-Matyasik, Ingus Pērkons, Inga Mišina, Paweł Górnaś et al.
4 citations
Horticulturae
Natural Compound Pharmacology Studies
7.00
article

Characterization of Tocochromanols in Wild Hypericum perforatum Populations in Latvia

Magdalena Człapka-Matyasik, Ingus Pērkons, Inga Mišina, Paweł Górnaś, Dalija Segliņa
article en
4 citations

Abstract

St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) is an ornamental and medical plant, distributed worldwide, which is rich in diverse secondary metabolites. The discovery of the presence of tocotrienols (rare prenyllipids) in H. perforatum marks a new chapter demanding a deeper understanding of the accumulation of these lipophilic biomolecules. Three wild St. John’s wort populations were harvested in Latvia at three different locations from 2022 to 2024 and separated into stems, leaves, flower buds, and flowers. Plant samples were freeze-dried, ground, saponified, and analyzed for tocochromanol profiles using RP-LC-FLD and confirmed by an LC-MS system. Eight tocochromanols, four tocopherols (Ts), and four tocotrienols (T3s), were identified and confirmed in H. perforatum. Leaves were dominated by α-T (82%), and flower buds and flowers by δ-T3 (44%); thus, the lowest concentrations of tocotrienols were recorded in leaves and the highest in flower buds. The other tocotrienols were present as follows: α-T3 > γ-T3 > β-T3. The location of H. perforatum, the year of harvest, the aerial part of the plant, and their interactions all significantly influenced the content of tocochromanols (p < 0.05). The present study demonstrates relevant discoveries regarding the accumulation of tocotrienols in various St. John’s wort organs and their variability.

HorticulturaeVol. 11(2)
Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LV), Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment “BIOR” (LV), University of Life Sciences in Poznań (PL)
Latvijas Zinātnes Padome
Openalex Percentile: Top 4%
Natural Compound Pharmacology Studies
7.00
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.