Ahmet Kahraman

Taxonomic Importance of Seed Morphology in Allium (Amaryllidaceae)

Abstract Allium is one of the largest monocotyledonous genera. Southwest to Central Asia is the major center of diversity for the genus. In the present study, seeds of 62 Allium taxa from Turkey classified in subg. Allium (sect. Allium, sect. Brevispatha, sect. Codonoprasum and sect. Multicaule), subg. Amerallium (sect. Molium), subg. Melanocommyum (sect. Acanthoprason and sect. Melanocrommyum), and subg. Polyprason (sect. Falcatifolia and sect. Scorodon) were examined using light and scanning electron microscopy to evaluate the taxonomic relevance of macro- and micro-morphological seed characters. As a result of the study, species-specific and section-specific characters have been determined. Seeds exhibit variation in size and shape of testa cells, shape and sculpturing of periclinal walls, as well as position, shape and undulation type of anticlinal walls. Seeds ranged from 1.57–5.10 mm in length and 0.81–4.05 mm in width. Six different ovate seed shapes were recognized with a length to width ratio ranging from 1.30 ± 0.09–2.64 ± 0.41. Shape of testa cells, shape, and sculpturing of periclinal walls, and position, shape, and undulation type of anticlinal walls were found to be important diagnostic characters. Seed coat patterns appear to mark different evolutionary levels inside of many taxonomic groups and variation of the testa characters is sufficient to distinguish taxa at sectional level. However, seed coat patterns do not directly indicate basal or advance evolutionary levels.

Evaluation of Cholinesterase Inhibitory and Antioxidant Activities of Wild and Cultivated Samples of Sage (Salvia fruticosa) by Activity-Guided Fractionation

In European folk medicine, Salvia species have traditionally been used to enhance memory. In our previous study of 55 Salvia taxa, we explored significant anticholinesterase activity of cultivated S. fruticosa. In this study, we compared the inhibitory activity of dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts of 3 wild-grown samples and 1 cultivated sample of S. fruticosa against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes (which are associated with pathogenesis of Alzheimers disease) by using the spectrophotometric Ellman method. Antioxidant activities were assessed by determining 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activity, iron-chelating capacity, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power. The dichloromethane extract of the cultivated sample was then subjected to fractionation by using open column chromatography and medium-pressure liquid chromatography to obtain the most active fraction by activity-guided fractionation. All fractions and subfractions were tested in the same manner, and inactive subfractions were discarded. The essential oil of the cultivated sample was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Morphology, anatomy, palynology and nutlet micromorphology of Salvia macrochlamys (Labiatae) in Turkey

Salvia macrochlamys Boiss. & Kotschy, which belongs to sect. Salvia Hedge, is a perennial herb usually growing on rocky limestone slopes in eastern Anatolia. In this study, the anatomical features of the root, the stem, the leaf and the petiole, as well as micromorphological characteristics of the pollen and the nutlet of this species have been investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Moreover, its emended and expanded description, phenology, current distribution and ecology are also given. Anatomical characters such as the number of ray lines in the root, the distance between vascular bundles in the stem, the structure of mesophyll in the leaf and the structure of vascular bundles in the petiole have been found to have taxonomic value. The pollen grains are hexacolpate, radially symmetrical, isopolar and oblate-spheroidal. Their exine sculpturing is bireticulate and perforate. The nutlets are rounded-trigonous in transverse sections, broadly ovate to rotund in shape, light brown, glabrous and slightly rough to protuberances. This species often grows in habitats in which the main soil type is sandy-clayish with low organic content (1.32 ± 1.06%) and slightly alkaline (pH 7.75 ± 0.25). The amount of CaCO3 is 0.94% to 34.91%. The contents of P and K are 8.68 ± 0.96 and 110.12 ± 4.86 ppm, respectively.

Morphology, anatomy, palynology, mericarp and trichome micromorphology of the rediscovered Turkish endemic Salvia quezelii (Lamiaceae) and their taxonomic implications

Salvia quezelii is a very little known local endemic species from Turkey. Since 2005, our revisional studies on the genus in Turkey have been shown that previously known two localities of the species including type locality are wrong, and the species has not been collected since 1970. In this study, the type locality of the species is amended and morphological description of the species is amplified and expanded based on large number of specimens. The anatomy, palynology, myxocarpy, mericarp micromorphology and distribution of the trichomes on the aerial parts of S. quezelii are studied for the first time to understand the usefulness of these characteristics for systematic purposes. Morphological characteristics of leaves, calyces, corollas and types of stamens are useful for sectional and specific delimitation in Salvia. Anatomical characters such as number of ray rows in roots, distance between vascular bundles in stems, mesophyll structures in leaves, shape of mid-rib and presence/absence of sclerenchymatic tissue in petioles provide information of taxonomical significance. Scanning electron microscopy studies on the pollen grains have revealed that they are oblate-spheroidal to prolate-spheroidal and their exine ornamentation is reticulate–perforate. Mericarps are broadly ovate to rotund, and surface sculpturing pattern is verrucate or slightly reticulate. Three main types of trichomes were observed on the stem, inflorescence axis, leaf and calyx surfaces of S. quezelii with very high diversity. They are peltate, capitate glandular and non-glandular. Capitate glandular and non-glandular trichomes were further subdivided into several kinds. Glandular trichomes are present in abundance on all vegetative parts, particularly in inflorescence axis.

A New Variety of Salvia sericeotomentosa (Lamiaceae) from South Anatolia, Turkey

Abstract Salvia sericeotomentosa Rechinger f. (Lamiaceae) was first collected by A. Eig and M. Zohary in 1932 and was described in 1952 by K. H. Rechinger, but since that time it has not been collected again from its type locality. Among specimens collected from the Amanos Mountains near Hatay Province, Turkey, in 2006, the taxon was rediscovered on the basis of two different populations growing at low altitudes. These populations provide the type for the new variety S. sericeotomentosa var. hatayica Celep & Doğan, which differs from the typical variety by having densely sericeous-tomentose and short glandular-pilose inflorescences. A full description of the new variety is also provided, as well as its conservation assessment.

A cytomorphological study in some taxa of the genus Salvia L. (Lamiaceae)

Abstract The taxa of the genus Salvia L. (Lamiaceae) used in this study were collected from their natural habitats in Turkey. In this paper, the number, size and morphology of somatic chromosomes of 22 Turkish taxa of Salvia, namely S. bracteata Banks & Sol., S. fruticosa Mill., S. huberi Hedge, S. hydrangea DC. ex Benth., S. nemorosa L. and S. pomifera L. (2n = 14), S. adenocaulon P.H. Davis and S. aucheri Benth. subsp. canescens Boiss. & Heldr., (2n = 18), S. argentea L., S. frigida Boiss., S. palestina Benth., S. poculata Nábělek and S. verticillata L. subsp. verticillata (2n = 20), S. atropatana Bunge, S. cassia Sam. ex. Rech. f., S. chrysophylla Stapf, S. cyanescens Boiss. & Balansa, S. indica L. and S. limbata C.A.Mey. (2n = 22), S. multicaulis Vahl (2n = 28), S. virgata Jacq. (2n = 32) and S. verbenaca L. (2n = 60) were investigated. Somatic chromosome numbers ranged from 2n = 14 to 2n = 60. The present results were compared with the previous cytological ones.

Taxonomic Notes for Salvia aucheri (Lamiaceae) from Southern Anatolia, Turkey

Abstract.  Salvia aucheri Benth. (Lamiaceae) is a species endemic to Turkey, and the name is lectotypified herein. Two varieties were previously recognized, as S. aucheri var. aucheri and S. aucheri var. canescens Boiss. & Heldr.; the infraspecific taxa are recognized here as subspecies. During revisionary work on Turkish Salvia L., we determined that S. aucheri subsp. canescens (Boiss. & Heldr.) Celep, Kahraman & Doğan differs from subspecies aucheri not only morphologically, but also geographically and phenologically, and both taxa are typically allopatric.

Chemical characterization and anticholinesterase effects of essential oils derived from Salvia species

Abstract Inhibitory effect of Salvia species herbal preparations on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butylcholinesterase (BuChE) activitiy may contribute to regulation of cognitive performance and impaired cholinergic functions in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. This functional role of Salvia species and their components makes the investigations on Salvia valuable in medicine-related plant research. Within this work it was aimed to investigate the in vitro anti-cholinesterase effect of essential oils derived from ten Salvia species, which grow in Turkey. The chemical composition of essential oils were characterized by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively. Results showed that all of the essential oils exhibited AChE inhibitory activity. S. pseudeuphratica, S. hydrangea and S. divaricata essential oils demonstrated the most potent AChE inhibitory effect [50% inhibition concentration (IC50) = 26.00 ± 2.00 μg/mL, 40.0 ± 4.00, 64.68 ± 4.16, respectively]. The essential oil of S. pseudeuphratica demonstrated the highest inhibitory activity against AChE and BuChE among the tested Salvia essential oils. Evidences from the our study augment the importance of essential oils obtained from Salvia species and may support utilization of Salvia species for symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer disease.

Karyomorphological studies in seven taxa of the genus Salvia (Lamiaceae) in Turkey

In this study, the karyotypes of mitotic chromosomes were determined of seven taxa of Salvia (Lamiaceae) collected from their natural habitats in Turkey: S. viridis (2n = 16), S. candidissima subsp. occidentalis (2n = 20), S. sclarea, S. ceratophylla, S. chionantha (2n = 22), S. viscosa and S. verticillata subsp. amasiaca (2n = 32). The karyotype formulae were 5m+3sm in S. viridis, 2M+5m+3sm in S. candidissima subsp. occidentalis, 1M+10m in S. sclarea, 8m+3sm in S. ceratophylla, 7m+4sm in S. chionantha, 9m+5sm+2st in S. viscosa, and 15m+1sm in S. verticillata subsp. amasiaca by the karyotype image analysis system. Somatic chromosome numbers ranged from 2n = 16 to 2n = 32. The ideograms were drawn based on centromeric index and arranged in decreasing size order. The present results were compared with the previous cytological studies in the genus.

Mericarp micromorphology and anatomy of Salvia hedgeana Dönmez, S. huberi Hedge and S. rosifolia Sm. (section Salvia Hedge, Lamiaceae)

Mericarp micromorphology and anatomy of Salvia hedgeana Dönmez, S. huberi Hedge and S. rosifolia Sm. (section Salvia Hedge, Lamiaceae) Mericarp (nutlet) micromorphology and pericarp structure of three morphologically similar endemic Salvia species; Salvia hedgeana, S. huberi and S. rosifolia were investigated using LM, SEM and TEM. Salvia hedgeana has larger mericarps and abscission scars than S. huberi and S. rosifolia. Mericarp length to width ratio ranges from 1.11 in S. hedgeana to 1.60 in S. huberi. Mericarp shape is mainly ovoid, rarely broadly ovoid in S. hedgeana, and oblong in S. huberi. The mericarp surface sculpturing pattern in all species is colliculate. However, exocarp cells are pentangular-hexangular in S. hedgeana, irregular in S. huberi and rounded and smaller in S. rosifolia. In Salvia huberi anticlinal walls are undulate whereas in S. hedgeana and S. rosifolia anticlinal walls are straight. Salvia hedgeana was distinguished from the others by the thickest pericarp (146-185 μm). The sclerenchymatous region significantly varied between the species. It was 84-99 μm in S. hedgeana, 56-82 μm in S. huberi and 27-61 μm in S. rosifolia. The mesocarp was also thicker in S. hedgeana. The wetted mericarps produced mucilage, but S. huberi differed from the others in having translucent-milky white opaque mucilage with fibres or radiating cordons.