Variability in Hypericum perforatum L. breeding lines

As active principles various substances are discussed. For breeding it is s ignificant to find genotypes having a high content of the different potenti al active principles or a high total content supposing that in such a case also the potential active principles show a higher content. When analyzing 153 origins and breeding lines a very high variability of th e active principles within Hypericum perforatum L. was ascertained. With re gard to the flavonglycosides two very distinct types can appear: 1. forms w ith a high content of rutine and hyperoside, 2. forms with a very low conte nt of rutine, but with a high content of hyperoside and isoquercitrine. The latter forms are mostly linked with a high or even a very high content of total hypericines (up to four times higher than "normal" breeding lines) . There are breeding lines available having a high content of rutine, flavo nglycosides, amenthoflavones, hypericine, total hypericines and/or free ami no acids such as for example gamma butyric acid (Gaba).