Hyperforin is a key pharmacologically active constituent responsible for the antidepressant and other therapeutic effects of Hypericum perforatum. However, its content within medicinal materials varies significantly according to the harvest season and the plant organ, leading to inconsistencies in drug quality. To elucidate the dynamic patterns of hyperforin biosynthesis, this study systematically analyzed the accumulation of hyperforin and the expression levels of key biosynthetic genes in the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers of H. perforatum collected across different seasons. The results revealed that hyperforin accumulation exhibits distinct seasonal fluctuations and tissue specificity, following the order of flower > leaf > stem > root. Notably, the hyperforin content in leaves reached its peak in the second season. The expression patterns of key biosynthetic genes (e.g., HpPKS, HpPT1-4) were inconsistent with the accumulation trends of the final product in terms of both temporal (seasonal) and spatial (tissue) dynamics. Gene expression was predominantly active during the first season and was significantly high in roots, where hyperforin content was the lowest. These findings suggest that the regulation of hyperforin biosynthesis involves complex multi-level mechanisms, with an asynchronous regulatory relationship between gene expression and the accumulation of the final product. By dissecting the spatiotemporal characteristics of hyperforin biosynthesis from both the perspectives of metabolite accumulation and gene expression, this study not only provides a theoretical basis for further research into its regulatory mechanisms but also offers valuable insights for the quality control, metabolic regulation, variety breeding, and the development of science-based cultivation and harvesting strategies of H. perforatum.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |