Antibacterial activity of Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John’s wort) extracts against Gram-positive bacteria and characterisation of its secondary metabolites

Kisa O., ÖKSÜZ L., Servi H., Aysal A. I.

Natural Product Research, vol.39, no.5, pp.1019-1026, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 39 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2291702
  • Journal Name: Natural Product Research
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), Biotechnology Research Abstracts, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, CINAHL, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.1019-1026
  • Keywords: antibacterial activity, Gram-positive bacteria, Hypericum perforatum L, LC-Q-TOF-MS, Medicinal plant extracts, St. John’s wort
  • İstanbul Yeni Yüzyıl University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the secondary metabolite profiles and antibacterial activity of H. perforatum L extracts against Gram-positive clinical isolates. The plant materials (Sample A and Sample B) were macerated with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol (MeOH). The antibacterial activitiy of plant extracts and routinely used antibiotics were tested against Gram-positive bacteria. The secondary metabolite profiles of Sample A were determined by LC-Q-TOF-MS. The MIC values for n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of Sample A were lower than the susceptibility breakpoints of most broad-spectrum antibiotics (e.g. vancomycin, teicoplanin and linezolid) in a certain proportion of Gram-positive bacteria. The n-hexane extract of Sample A showed good antibacterial activity with MICs lower than the susceptibility breakpoint of teicoplanin in 58% of coagulase-negative staphylococci. The n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of Sample A had rich phloroglucinol constituents. The n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of Sample A could be alternative antibacterial agents against Gram-positive bacteria.