Characterization of supercritical fluid extracts of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) by HPLC-MS and GC-MS

Eur J Pharm Sci. 2004 Mar;21(4):453-63. doi: 10.1016/j.ejps.2003.10.021.

Abstract

Supercritical fluid extracts (carbon dioxide without modifiers) of St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum L., Clusiaceae) were analyzed by GC-MS, HPLC-DAD and HPLC-DAD-MS. Besides the dominating phloroglucinols hyperforin (36.5 +/- 1.1%) and adhyperforin (4.6 +/- 0.1%), the extracts mainly contained alkanes (predominantly nonacosane), fatty acids and wax esters. The apolar components tended to accumulate in a waxy phase resting a top of the hyperforin-enriched phase. No components of higher polarity like naphthodianthrones were found. A set of hyperforin oxidation products was detected and tentatively assigned using HPLC-MS.

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid / methods*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Hypericum*
  • Plant Extracts / analysis*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry*

Substances

  • Plant Extracts