Hypericum perforatum xanthones from

Phytochemistry The total flavonoids isolated from this species are nearly identical to those of Hypericum perforatum. Xanthones, vitamin C, carotene, anthocyanins, essential oil, sugars, mucilage, resins, organic acids, and saponins and others have also been isolated from the plant (Plant Resources of the USSR 1986 Matsuhisa et al. 2002 Tanaka et al. 2004). 

Hypericum perforatum (Clusiaceae), commonly known as SJW, is used in many countries for the treatment of mild-to-moderate forms of depression. Several clinical studies provide evidence that SJW is as effective as conventional synthetic antidepressants (46-51). From a phytochemical point of view, H. perforatum belongs to one of the best-investigated medicinal plants. A series of bioactive compounds have been detected in the crude material, namely phenylpropanes, flavonol derivatives, biflavones, proanthocyani-dins, xanthones, phloroglucinols, some amino acids, naphthodianthrones, and essential oil constituents (Fig. 3) (52-54). 

Historically, reviews of benzophenones were included as small sections with the biogenetically related xanthones. Previous reviews include Bennett and Lee [1] who discussed the distribution and isolation of 20 benzophenones included in a review focused on xanthones. They also discussed the biosynthetic relationships between xanthones and benzophenones. Kumar and Baslas [2] summarized the chemical composition, medical importance, and biologically active benzophenones, biflavonoids, and xanthones isolated from Garcinia species. Two reviews by Waterman focused on the chemotaxonomic significance of benzophenones, along with biflavonoids and xanthones, of ten African Garcinia species [3,4], Locksley and Murray [5] discussed the distribution of thirteen benzophenones in higher plants and Sultanbawa [6] included five benzophenones in a review on xanthonoids from tropical plants. Sultanbawa also discussed the biosynthesis of benzophenones and xanthones. Erdelmeier et al. [7] discussed 20 polyprenylated benzophenones in a chapter on the various properties of St. John s Wort Hypericum perforatum). 

H.perforatum, 13, II8-biapigenin 46 as the major, and 13 , II8-biapigenin (= amentoflavone) 47 as minor components [87, 88]. There were some assumptions that biflavones could contribute to the antidepressant activity of St. John s Wort, however their significance remains unclear [7]. Of the xanthones, a very typical class of compounds in the Guttiferae family, only two have been reported to occur in H. perforatum [89, 90]. The xanthonolignoid kielcorin 48 was isolated and identified by Nielsen and Arends from root materials of this and several other Hypericum species [91]. In aerial parts of H. perforatum, a trace amount of 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone 49 was found by Berghofer [86]. 

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