Hypericin Contents of Hypericum erectum Thunberg

To explore the Korea native plants to substitute for St. John's wort, which produce hypericin that use commercially for the treatment of mild to moderate depression, hypericin contents of Hypericum erectum and H. ascyron collected in two mountain of Korea were examined. From TLC and TLC-densitometer analysis of hypericin contents and biosynthetic pattern, hypericin was detected in flower and leaf of H. erectum, but not in all organs of H. ascyron. The hypericin content of H. erectum grown 200 m high hill in Mt. Byoung-pung was higher than that of Mt. Ji-ri 500 m and 1300 m high hill. When the seasonal variation of hypericin contents in H. erectum leaf collected from two regions was investigated, leaf collected from both regions on July was higher than other seasons.