Chemical Composition of Essential Oils of Medicinal Plants Grown in the Thrace Region in Türkiye, Hypericum perforatum L.

Abstract

Background There are many active substances in the composition of the Hypericum perforatum L. plant that have different and complex structures and show different pharmacological effects. It was accepted as a medicinal plant by the World Health Organization in 2002, and it is given a detailed place in the monographs under the name Hyperici herba. In these monographs, the anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-depressant, protein kinase-C inhibitor, and wound-healing effects of the plant were described. Objectives The aim of this study is to determine the essential oil components in the samples of the H. perforatum L. plant, which is widely grown in the Thrace region in Türkiye. Materials and Methods H. perforatum L. plant growing naturally in the provinces of the Thrace region was collected, and the essential oils of the plant were obtained by using the hydro distillation method after the collected herbs were dried. Chemical content analyses were performed on a gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Results The main components of the essential oil of the plant are sesquiterpenes (ß-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, β-selinene, α-selinene, β-farnesene, α-amorphene, spathulenol), alcohols (1-tetradecanol, 1-tridecanol, phytol, and alpha cadinol), and fatty acids (pentadecanoic acid, palmitic acid, and 9, 12 octadecadienoic acid). Conclusion This is the first study to determine the chemical composition of essential oil in H. perforatum L. samples collected from the Thrace region in Türkiye. The essential oil content of the plant can be affected by factors such as the developmental stages of the plant (preblooming, flowering stage, and fruiting time), use of fresh or dry plant material, extraction method, genetic parameters, and climate.