An integrated approach to the study of Hypericum occurring in Sicily

Antonio Giovino,Edoardo Napoli,Gianniantonio Domina,Alessandra Carrubba,Silvia Lazzara

doi:10.3906/bot-1912-34

Abstract

An integrated approach to the study of taxa of the genus Hypericum occurring in Sicily is proposed. The results of morphological, biochemical, and molecular analyses are combined to better assess the relationships between the species investigated and test the suitability of DNA barcoding technique in the discrimination of these taxa. For the name Hypericum aegypticum subsp. webbii Spach N. Robson a lectotype is designated. For Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra a lectotype and a supporting epitype are designated. The presence of Hypericum perforatum L. subsp. perforatum is excluded from Sicily and the previous reports have to be referred to H. perforatum subsp. veronense Schrank Ces. Hypericum perfoliatum L. and H. pubescens Boiss. are close morphologically and chemically, as well as based on the results from rcbL marker, although belonging to different sections. Biochemical analyses confirmed the relevant amounts in bioactive metabolites of the studied taxa. Hypericum perfoliatum L. is proposed as a valid alternative to H.perforatum L. for cultivation with phytotherapic purposes.

Highlights

Hypericum L. (Hypericaceae), with about 470 species, is widespread in temperate zones all over the world (Crockett and Robson, 2011)
In Italy, 32 taxa are currently known, 30 species and 2 subspecies; 10 taxa occur to Sicily (Castellano and Spadaro, 2010; Bartolucci et al, 2018; Galasso et al, 2018)
Voucher specimens were deposited in the Herbarium SAF (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Hypericum L. (Hypericaceae), with about 470 species, is widespread in temperate zones all over the world (Crockett and Robson, 2011). Notwithstanding, the most widely studied active compounds are phloroglucinols, such as hyperforin and adhyperforin, naphtodianthrones, such as hypericin and pseudohypericin, and polyphenols, including hyperoside, quercetin, rutin, quercitrin, and others (Castellano and Spadaro, 2010; Napoli et al, 2018). A previous work (Lazzara et al, 2020) allowed to assess a high variability in hyperforin and hypericins (hypericin + pseudohypericin) content in 6 Hypericum species from the Sicilian flora (Hypericum perforatum L., H. perfoliatum L., H. pubescens Boiss., H. hircinum L., H. calycinum L., and H. tetrapterum Fr.). Hyperforin content was on average much higher in H. perforatum and H. perfoliatum than in the other species, being absent at all from H. hircinum and H. calycinum. In Hypericum, a high biochemical variability showed up within H. perforatum and H. perfoliatum, and some compounds such as hyperforin showed to be allocated in high-yielding and low-yielding genotypes from the same taxon

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Conclusion