Pharmaceutical
Quality of Hypericum Extracts
AU: Wagner-H; Bladt-S
AD: Institute fur Pharmazeutische Biologie der Universitat Munchen,
Germany.
SO: J-Geriatr-Psychiatry-Neurol. 1994 Oct; 7 Suppl 1: S65-8
Summary
- Hypericum extracts contain at least ten constituents or groups
of components that may contribute to the pharmacological effects.
It is not yet possible to correlate the antidepressive mode of
action with specific constituents; therefore, the pharmaceutical
quality of the extracts was characterized on the basis of typical
leading substances and especially the hypericins.
- The red-colored hypericins have been found in very few other
plants, while most other ingredients are found in many other
plants.
- The hypericins also have a photodynamic effect, and sometimes
they do not occur until the crude drug has been processed and
exposed to light. The concentration of hypericins (mainly
hypericine and pseudohypericin) in buds and flowers can vary
between 0.06% and 0.75%. A minimum content of 0.04% total
hypericin is required for commercial qualities.
- For the analysis and improvement of the production procedure,
the content of hypericin and pseudohypericin was measured
experimentally. The drug material was extracted with different
solvents and the yield was analyzed for each kind of solvent, its
concentration and extraction temperature. Optimal yields were
obtained with 80% methanol at temperatures of 80 degrees C.
Table 9 shows the percentages of hypericin and pseudohypericin
obtained with different extract solutions.
| Solvent |
Hypericine % |
Pseudo- Hypericine % |
| Methanol |
75% |
80% |
| Ethanol |
34% |
37% |
| Acetone |
20% |
20% |
| Isopropanol |
10% |
10% |
| Water |
10-20% |
30-40% |
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