Hypericum spp. volatile profiling and the potential significance in the quality control of new valuable raw material

The genus Hypericum (Guttiferae) is one of the most representative species in temperate zones and Turkey is one of the most important Mediterranean sites. Due to the increasing commercial value of Hyperici herba (Hypericum perforatum), many wild Turkish Hypericum species have received currently a considerable renewed interest as potential substitutes of the well-established H. perforatum crops for their similar content in the standardization bioactives (hypericins, hyperforins, and flavonoids). The present paper reported the volatile fingerprints of three selected wild Turkish Hypericum species recently characterized as H. perforatum bioactive-like profiles but lacking of the requested well-established usage in the EU market. In this context, the volatile constituents of the three-selected Hypericum spp. were investigated as additional discriminating markers to enhance the likelihood that this adulterating plant raw material will be detected before it is incorporated into finished H. perforatum products.