This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This poster reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Hypericum perforatum Industry request: providing a stable and standardized extract, as well as producing a new pharmaceutical product which could be with higher bioavailability, pharmacological effect and convenient. MENA Supervisor: Dr. Amira A. Motaal Heliopolis Academy, Sekem MENA Student: Mohamed Adly European Supervisor: Mag. Dr. Herbert Böchzelt Joanneum Research European Student: Natalie Taupe Student picture 2. Fractionation Liquid-liquid extraction was performed using solvents from low to high polarity to obtain five fractions (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and the remaining water). The fractions yielded 21%, 3%, 11%, 14% and 51% respectively. Conclusions We were able to obtain a stable extract rich in active compounds. The hyperforin content lies around 3%. We recommend using hexane and ethyl acetate only as solvents for fractionation. Our results show that a separation of hyperforin, hypericin and polar compounds can be achieved using this method. Since the remaining water fraction was found to be rich in flavonoids and probably other polyphenols with antioxidant activity, this fraction could also be incorporated in food-supplements or in cosmetics. As an alternative to liquid extraction with hexane, one should consider performing supercritical fluid extraction, which is a sustainable way of extracting unpolar compounds such as hyperforin. After comparing some products on the market we decided to choose a formula containing 2% of hypericum perforatum extract. Further investigations will give clarity about the stability and properties of the hydrogels and niosomes. Fig.1.: Active compounds in dry hypericum perforatum extract (solvent: 80% EtOH, temperature: 70°C) Fig.2.: Concentration of hyperforin (left) and hypericin (right) in the fractions Fig.3.: Hyperforin (upper), Hypericin (lower) Introduction The active compounds present in hypericum perforatum include phloroglucinols (hyperforin), naphthodianthrones (hypericin) and flavonoids (quercetin), which are assumed to be responsible for the activity of extracts in the treatment of wounds and scars. Such compounds however are unstable when attempting to obtain them in pure form, and they decompose over time due to the effect of light and heat. Pharmaceutical formulations available nowadays consist of fresh hypericum perforatum extract as an active ingredient and oily excipients. These oily formulations make the skin saturated with oil and difficult to wash when used for long term application and it is difficult to monitor the lesion condition. 3. Formulation Hydroalcoholic gels containing 2% of the extract were prepared and evaluated visually, by means of HPLC-DAD and spectrophotometry, by performing in vitro release studies (USP dissolution test), pH measurements and stability studies, in order obtain the best properties. Niosomes were evaluated according to their percentage drug entrapments, particle size analysis, zeta potential and stability studies. Student picture Experiments and Results 1. Extraction Two varieties of hypericum (hypericum perforatum and hypericum perforatum var. Topas) were cultivated in SEKEM group farm. Hypericum of var. Topas showed a more successful adaptation than the other one, as it gave higher quantitative and qualitative production. In the Joanneum Research laboratories extraction trials of hypericum perforatum flowering tops were conducted at a laboratory scale using Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE). The up-scaling of an extraction method was performed by a pilot plant extraction unit (Dig-Maz). This process yielded a highly concentrated dry extract. For the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the active compounds, High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with a Diode Array Detector (HPLC-DAD) was applied and the total amount of hypericins was measured with a spectrophotometer at λ = 590nm.