Pharmacognostic, Phytochemical and Physicochemical Investigations of Hypericum hookerianum Wight & Arn. (Hypericaceae) of Palni Hills, India

Introduction: Hypericum hookerianum Wight and Arn. (Hooker’s wort) is a lesser known unfamiliar yet critically endangered native therapeutically active native medicinal plant. It is being characterized by the presence of various secretory glands. Methodology: In this present study, characterization of the plant in terms of morphology, anatomy and histochemistry of tissues and phytochemicals and antimicrobial potentials were made. Results: The epidermal layer contains oil cells while histochemistry showed the presence of the secondary metabolites. Qualitative analysis indicated presence of maximum phytocompounds in the high polar ethanolic extract; flavonoids, anthocyanin and phenol are prominently present and quantified. Conclusion: The results suggest that the less studied herb, H. hookerianum is a multifaceted high value species having a wide range of phytochemicals with abundant medicinal properties.