Flowering time and concentration of secondary metabolites in fl oral organs of <i>Hypericum perforatum</i> are affected by spectral quality

ISSN: 0972-1045

Volume 10(1), 2003

Flowering time and concentration of secondary metabolites in fl oral organs of Hypericum perforatum are affected by spectral quality

Tetsuro Nishimura, Naoka Hashimoto, Sayed M. A. Zobayed and Eiji Goto

Faculty of Horticulture, Chiba University, Matsudo, Chiba 271-8510, Japan.

Key words: perforatum L., artificial light, controlled environment, hyperforin, hypericin, long-day plant, St. John's wort

Journal of Applied Horticulture, 2003, volume 10, issue 1, pages 30-35.

Abstract: Hypericin and pseudohypericin are the major bioactive constituents of floral parts of Hypericum perforatum L., mainly used for the treatment of neurological disorders and depression. The principle objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of blue, blue and red mixed, and red light on flowering time and concentration of hypericin, pseudohypericin and hyperforin in the floral tissues of H. perforatum plants. The results revealed that red light promoted flowering and production of the three major medicinal components, indicating the influence of spectral characteristics of light on flowering of H. perforatum plants. Spectral quality of light was found to be an important factor in controlling the flowering of H. perforatum plants.