Investigation of the Physiological and Antioxidant Properties of the Medicinal and Endemic Hypericum bilgehan-bilgilii Species Under Different Cultivation Methods

<i>Hypericum bilgehan bilgilii</i> is a locally endemic species belonging to the genus <i>Hypericum</i>. Considering that the related plant has pharmacological and medicinal potential like other <i>Hypericum</i> species, this study has been conducted to determine its physiological and antioxidant activities. Plant extracts obtained through three different cultivation methods (wild, cultivated in a laboratory environment in peat, and cultivated using tissue culture methods) were used to determine physiological, biochemical, and antioxidant activity analyses. (The abbreviations for the cultivation methods are indicated as, respectively, W, in vivo in lab, in vitro in lab). In this study, the highest photosynthetic pigment content, total protein content, proline content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, phenylalanine ammonium lyase (PAL) activity, antioxidant activity (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl radical scavenging activity, total phenolic content, carotenoid) values were determined for the first time in the in vitro in lab group in <i>H. bilgehan bilgilii</i> plants grown under three different cultivation methods. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities were observed at the highest levels in the wild group. Based on these parameters, the physiological, biochemical, and antioxidant activities of the <i>H. bilgehan bilgilii</i> plant were studied for the first time under different cultivation conditions, producing new results. According to these results, it was determined that in vitro cultivated plants have higher physiological parameters and antioxidant content. This study has also demonstrated the significance of tissue culture, a biotechnological method, in enhancing bioactive compounds, and that in vitro cultures could be used as an alternative to traditional methods for producing larger quantities of bioactive compounds. In addition, establishing in vitro cultures for endemic, endangered, and medically significant species will enable the sustainable use of the local endemic species <i>H. bilgehan-bilgilii</i>, facilitate large-scale production of phytochemicals, and provide a valuable plant resource and information for future comprehensive phytochemical studies.