LC-MS/MS profiles, multi-element levels and biological activities of Hypericum heterophyllum Vent

Abstract

Plants belonging to the genus Hypericum L. are widely used in traditional folk medicine due to their hypericin and pseudohypericin contents. In this study, we investigated the biological activity, phenolic and elemental content of methanol and acetone extracts of sheepskin grass, Hypericum heterophyllum Vent. a species that that lacks both hypericin and pseudohypericin. The total antioxidant status of the extracts was determined by commercial kits. Antibacterial effect of extracts was investigated on seven bacterial strains. Cytotoxic effects of the extracts on lung cancer cell lines were determined by MTT (3-4,5-dimethyl-thiazolyl-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) method. Phenolic content was determined by LC-ESI-MS/MS. Elements in the plant were determined by ICP-OES. The total phenolic content and antioxidant status of the species’ methanol extract were found to be higher than the acetone extract. Both of the extracts at a concentration of 20% have an antibacterial effect, especially the antibacterial effect of acetone extract. It was determined that acetone extract has an anticarcinogenic impact depending on the dose. Chlorogenic acid, miquelianin and isoquercitrin are the most abundant flavonoids in methanol and acetone extract. The plant contains Ca, K, and Mg elements in high concentrations. The phenolic substances and elements in H. heterophyllum, widely used in our country, have been presented for the first time in the literature. Besides, it can be said that the plant has antioxidant, anticarcinogen, and antimicrobial activities due to the crucial flavonoids and elements it contains