Pre-Extraction and Extraction of Hypericin in St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) using the Speed­Extractor E-916

In herbal medicine St. John's Wort herb and capsules with dry extract are widely used for the treatment of depressions. In this products hypericin is determined for quality reasons. The determination of the total amount of hypericin can be done by extraction and photometric quantification at 590 nm. The quantification by photometry is interfered by co-extracted chlorophyll. Removal of the interfering chlorophyll was achieved by a pre-extraction with dichloromethane. The remainings were then extracted with methanol to quantify hypericin.