High-Value Metabolites From Hypericum Perforatum: A Comparison Between The Plant And In Vitro Systems

Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John’s wort) is a medicinal plant used for the treatment of neurological disorders and mild to moderate depression. Hypericum perforatum is also used as a garden ornamental plant in perennial hedges or in rock gardens. Recent studies have been conducted to investigate the productivity on a large-scale of in vitro growth systems such as undifferentiated calli, cell cultures, somatic embryos and regenerated shoots. Accumulation of bioactive molecules (hypericins, hyperforin, xanthones, flavonoids, procyanidins and anthocyanins) has been compared with that in wild and greenhouse-grown plants. In vitro studies demonstrated that shoot cultures accumulate greater amounts of different metabolites compared to calli and cell suspension cultures. Moreover shoot cultures demonstrated to be a good source for both hypericins and hyperforin production