Mangiferin and isomangiferin in some Hypericum species

Mangiferin was found in 26 and isomangiferin in 33 of the 36 evaluated species from Hypericum L., belonging to 17 sections of the genus. These substances are reported here in 25 taxa for the first time. In most of the investigated species they were minor components. The highest amounts of mangiferin were observed in H. rochelii Griseb. et Schenk, H. perfoliatum L., H. aucheri Jaub. et Spach and H. montanum L. The widely distribution of mangiferin and isomangiferin in species of Hypericum appear to be of little chemotaxonomic significance for the sectional classification of the genus. These xanthone C-glucosides seem to possess value as taxonomic markers at the subfamily level. At present they are characteristic only for the taxa of subfamily Hypericoideae and have not been found in the remaining subfamilies of the Guttiferae. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.