96 research outputs found
Organogenesis and embryogenesis in several hypericum perforatum genotypes
St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a valuable plant used as a herbal remedy or in phytopharmaceutical drugs to
treat a variety of physical ailments. Much research has been performed to study the biochemical production of secondary
metabolites of in vitro cultured plants or organs. However, all of these studies have looked at the regeneration of plants
from explants in only one genotype. In addition, no study has revealed the mechanism of plant regeneration in
H. perforatum, i.e. organogenesis or somatic embryogenesis. We found that different genotypes Helos, Topas, Elixir, and
Numi responded similarly to regeneration medium. The regeneration responses (i.e. callus, root, or shoot production) of
identical explants from different genotypes were similar. However, the source of explant material (leaves, hypocotyls, and
roots) from the same genotype had significant effects on the response to media and plant regeneration frequency. Using
scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy, the progress of organogenesis and embryogenesis under similar
culture conditions was recorded. Root segments were the most responsive explants, producing the maximum number of
shoots per explant of all the genotypes.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) -
POCTI/AGR/40 283/2001, SFRH/BPD/17102/2004
Trocas gasosas influenciam na morfogênese in vitro de duas cultivares de oliveira (Olea europaea L.)
Hypericum sp.: essential oil composition and biological activities
Phytochemical composition of Hypericum
genus has been investigated for many years. In the recent past, studies on the essential oils (EO) of this genus have been progressing and many of them have reported interesting biological activities. Variations in the EO composition of Hypericum species influenced
by seasonal variation, geographic distribution, phenological cycle and type of the organ in which EO are produced and/or accumulated have also been reported. Although many reviews attributed to the characterization
as well as biological activities of H. perforatum
crude extracts have been published, no review has been published on the EO composition and biological activities of Hypericum species until recently (Crockett
in Nat Prod Commun 5(9):1493–1506, 2010;
Bertoli et al. in Global Sci Books 5:29–47, 2011). In this article, we summarize and update information regarding the composition and biological activities of Hypericum species EO. Based on experimental work carried out in our laboratory we also mention possible biotechnology approaches envisaging EO improvement of some species of the genus.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - project PTDC/AGR AAM/70418/2006, SFRH/BD/
13283/2003
Plant–Environment Interactions: Accumulation of Hypericin in Dark Glands of Hypericum perforatum
• Background and Aims Hypericum perforatum is a perennial herbaceous plant and an extract from this plant has a significant antidepressant effect when administered to humans. The plant is characterized by its secretory glands, also known as dark glands, which are mainly visible on leaves and flowers. The current study evaluates the influence of several environmental factors and developmental stages of the plant on the accumulation and synthesis of hypericin and pseudohypericin (Hy-G), the major bioactive constituents, in H. perforatum plants
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