EVALUATION OF THE DNA BARCODING APPROACH IN HYPERICUM SPP. DISCRIMINATION

Hypericum, with more than 450 species, is widespread in temperate zones all over the world. In Italy 30 taxa are known (1), 26 species and 4 subspecies; ten of them are native to Sicily, in addition to H. calycinum which is recoded as naturalized. Hypericum biochemical compounds (flavanols, flavonoids, cumarins, glicosidys, terpens, tannins, essential oils) are well recognized for many pharmacological activities: antiflogistic, improving blood flow, against traumas, in wounds and burns recovering. The most important activity is ascribed to the hipericyn, a compound especially derived from Hypericum perforatum L., with successfully application in anti-depressive phytotherapy. The medical rel…

Application of the DNA barcoding in the identification of Mediterranean wild plants with ornamental attitude.