Hyperforin, possibly the major non-nitrogenous secondary metabolite of Hypericum perforatum L.

An overview of the constituents of Hypericum perforatum is given, with special emphasis on the acylphloroglucinol hyperforin. Previous work on the chemistry of hyperforin and on other components derived from hyperforin in H. perforatum is reviewed. A new optimized method of isolating hyperforin on a large scale is presented, including full spectroscopic characterization of the isolate.