Xanthones in cell cultures of Hypericum androsaemum

Cell cultures of Hypericum androsaemum contain an array of prenylated xanthone aglycones and their glucosides, when grown in modified B5 medium in the dark. Derivatives of 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone prevail over compounds with the 1,3,5,6-oxygenation pattern. 1,7-Dihydroxyxanthone was also isolated. Xanthone accumulation parallels cell growth, is repressed by light and strongly influenced by the culture medium used.