The influence of soil properties on essential oil components of Hypericum perforatum L. growing in Turkey

Hypericum perforatum L. is a medicinally and commercially important plant with a long history of traditional use. It is used for conditions such as depression, wound healing, ulcers, and the common cold. The medicinal properties of H. perforatum are primarily attributed to its essential oil (EO). Various soil conditions, such as pH, soil texture (sand, silt, and clay content), nutrient content (potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron, copper, zinc, and manganese), and organic matter, can influence the composition and concentration of EO in plants. In this study, these conditions were investigated aiming to understand the influence of soil's physical and chemical properties on the EOs extracted from H. perforatum collected from various localities. Dried aerial parts of H. perforatum from 20 different locations in Eski & scedil;ehir, Turkey, were hydrodistilled using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The EO components were analyzed using GC-FID and GC-MS systems. Soil samples were collected from the same 20 local habitats and subjected to physical and chemical analyses. The results were then correlated with the main EO components. GC-MS results identified 119 compounds, representing 71-96.6% of the volatiles in all samples. The findings revealed that specific soil parameters, including Mg, Ca, dust, lime, clay, and pH, had a significant impact on the yield and chemical composition of H. perforatum EO, particularly affecting the levels of alpha-pinene, caryophyllene oxide, 1-dodecanol, and 1-tetradecanol. Further research is needed to fine-tune these soil parameters in conjunction with other ecological factors to maximize the qualitative and quantitative yield of EO from H. perforatum.