1. INTRODUCTION
There are 482 Hypericum species distributed in different
geographies of the world from the equatorial zone to the Nordic
countries in the north (Crockett & Robson, 2011; Cırak & Kurt, 2014).
Species of the genus Hypericum have been used in many parts of
the world for many years because of their healing, bactericidal,
diuretic, anti-inflammatory and sedative effects (Cırak & Kurt, 2014).
Especially, several extracts from H. perforatum are used as a
drug in Europe (Brutovska et al., 2001). Turkey is an important center
in terms of Hypericum species and 49 of the 119 taxa are endemic
(Guner et al., 2012). One of these endemics is H. heterophyllumwhich is a perennial, shrub form, and blooming in August. Its habitat is
reported as Pinus woodlands (1200-1600 m altitude) (TUBIVES,
2019). This species is known locally as “Yaraotu” in Turkey (Guner et
al., 2012).
Secondary metabolites such as essential oils, alkaloids, glycosides,
steroids, saponins, resins etc. are invaluable effects phytochemicals
(Baydar, 2013). Hypericum species contain a large number of
secondary metabolites of at least 11 different classes, including
naphthydiantrons, flurogonol derivatives, flavonoids, organic acids,
essential oils, amino acids, xanthones, tannins, proxyanidins and other
water-soluble components (Greeson et al., 2001; Tanaka & Takaishi,
2006). However, Patocka (2003) refers to the pharmacological effects ofHypericum extracts to hyperfine, flavonoids, and essential oils,
which are hyperfine and sedohipericin, and flurugonol derivatives, with
naphthydiantron pigments. Essential oils secreted by aromatic plants are
stored in droplets in some specific metabolic cells and tissues such as
secretion hairs, secretion channels and resin channels (Baydar, 2013).
They are obtained from different organs of the plant such as leaves,
flowers, and stalks. It is known that essential oils have various
biological activities. The essential oil isolated from H.
heterophyllum exhibited antifungal activity (Cakir et al., 2004). The
aqueous extracts prepared from aerial parts of this species shown
clastogenic and genotoxic effects in human lymphocytes cultures (Ocal &
Eroglu, 2012). Also, it was observed that H. heterophyllum had
significant impact on several bacteria (Bacillus sp.,Esherichia coli , Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas sp.,Staphylococcus sp., and Salmonella sp.) (Tanker et al.,
1980; Akgoz, 2015). The amount of bioactive substances composed in
secondary metabolites (essential oils, saponins, and tannins etc.)
varies significantly according to the plant’s organs (morphogenetic
variability), life cycles of the plant (ontogenetic variability) and the
time of collection of the plant (ontogenetic variability) (Baydar, 2013;
Ramakrishna & Ravishankar, 2011).
Although there is a great deal of research on the chemical composition
of Hypericum species, there are limited studies on the
distribution of fatty acids. In studies on fatty acid composition, it
has been observed that the oil obtained from different parts of some
species in this genus are rich in palmitic, linoleic and linoleic fatty
acids (Ozen & Bashan, 2003; Ozen et al., 2004).
This study was carried out in
order to determine some chemical properties of H. heterophyllum ,
which is an endemic species.