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Induction of hypericins in Hypericum perforatum in response to chromium.

Tirillini B, Ricci A, Pintore G, Chessa M, Sighinolfi S

Institute of Botany, University of Urbino, Via Bramante, 28, 61029 Urbino, Italy.

Seedlings of Hypericum perforatum were grown with 0.01 and 0.1 mM of chromium added to the nutrient media. A treatment with 0.01 mM Cr(VI) for seven days resulted in an increased production of protopseudohypericin (+135%), hypericin (+38%) and pseudohypericin (+5%). Treatment with 0.1 mM Cr(VI) for two days also caused an increase of protopseudohypericin (+167%), hypericin (25%) and pseudohypericin (+5%). The greatest effect of chromium treatment was observed at a concentration of 0.1 mM for seven days: protopseudohypericin increased +404% and pseudohypericin to +379%. Hypericin was not affected by this treatment.

Published 25 April 2006 in Fitoterapia, 77(3): 164-70.
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