Propagação in vitro de Hypericum cordatum (Vell.) N. Robson (Clusiaceae) e análise fitoquímica de seus compostos secundários

a formacao de calos sendo uma alternativa viavel para a multiplicacao desta especie in vitro. Constatou-se com base nas analises bioquimicas e cromatograficas realizadas nesta fase de desenvolvimento das plantas mantidas em culturas in vitro, que as mesmas nao contem hipericina. No entanto, pode-se atribuir o potencial medicinal de H. cordatum as outras substâncias que tambem possuem importantes atividades biologicas, tais como a xantona e o acido clorogenico sintetizados nas glândulas foliares de H. cordatum. Palavras-chave: reguladores de crescimento, meio de cultura, antidepressivo ABSTRACT: In vitro propagation of Hypericum cordatum (Vell. Conc.) N. Robson (Clusiaceae) and phytochemical analysis of its secondary compounds. Hypericum cordatum, a plant with possible medicinal activity, was analyzed in this study for its in vitro propagation and main secondary compounds, compared to Hypericum perforatum, a medicinal species used as antidepressant. Considering the difficulties that occur in its collection and multiplication through seeds or stem cuttings, in vitro propagation was started and showed the following results: the induction and the growth of sprouts were stimulated by the plant regulator 6-benzyladenine (2.0 mg L - ¹), there was root induction by indolebutyric acid (0.5 mg L - ¹) and the low concentrations of auxins, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid or naphthaleneacetic acid (0.01 to 0.4 mg L -1 ) induced callus formation, constituting a viable alternative for the in vitro multiplication of this species. Biochemical and chromatographic analyses carried out at this developmental stage of plants kept in in vitro cultures indicated that they do not contain hypericin. However, the medicinal role of H. cordatum can be attributed to other substances that also have important biological activities, such as xanthone and chlorogenic acid, both synthesized in the leaf glands of H. cordatum.