Hulusi Malyer

CHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON SOME HYPERICUM SPECIES GROWING IN TURKEY-I

The chemical composition of five taxa of the genusHypericumL. obtained from herbarium specimens has been investigated.Namely, H. adenotrichum Spach(endemic),H. calycinumL.,H. cerastoides(Spach) Robson,H. montbretiiSpach, andH. perforatumL. were subjected to microdistillation to isolate the volatile compounds, which were analyzed by GC/MS.

Olea europaea leaf extract alters microRNA expression in human glioblastoma cells.

PurposeGlioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and the most lethal form of primary malignant tumors in the central nervous system. There is an increasing need for the development of more efficient therapeutic approaches for the treatment of these patients. One of the most attractive cancer therapy methods to date is the induction of tumor cell death by certain phytochemicals. Interestingly, bioactive compounds have been shown to alter micro RNA (miRNA) expression involved in several biological processes at the posttranscriptional level. The present study aimed to evaluate whether Olea europaea leaf extract (OLE) has an anticancer effect and modulates miRNA expression in GBM.Materials and methodsFirstly, the anti-proliferative activity of OLE and the nature of the interaction with temozolomide (TMZ) of OLE were tested in human glioblastoma cell line T98G cells by trypan blue and WST-1 assays and than realized miRNA PCR array analysis. Potential mRNA targets were analyzed bioinformatically.ResultsOLE exhibited anti-proliferative effects on T98G cell lines. Cells were treated with temozolomide (TMZ) in the presence OLE, and changes to miRNA expression levels were identified by PCR array analysis. miRNA target genes are involved in cell cycle and apoptotic pathways. Specifically, miR-181b, miR-153, miR-145, miR-137, and let-7d were significantly upregulated after treatment with both TMZ and OLE.ConclusionOur results suggest that OLE modulates the expression of some miRNAs related to anticancer activity in GBM and the response to TMZ. Further studies and validations are needed, but we suggest that OLE might be used for in vivo studies and future medical drug studies.

Seasonal variation of collected pollen loads of honeybees (Apis mellifera L. anatoliaca)

Pollen collected by honeybees foraging in the region of Bursa, Turkey was analysed for a whole year. Pollen loads were collected from the hives of Apis mellifera anatoliaca once a week and were classified by colour. Forty‐one taxa were identified from the pollen analyses of the loads and 14 of these had percentages higher than 1%. Only 2.05% of the total pollen could not have been identified. Dominant taxa include; Brassicaceae (11.19%), Helianthus annuus L. (10.84%), Cichorioideae (8.93%) Salix spp. (7.99%), Rosaceae (7.37%), Centaurea spp. (7.56%), Papaver spp. (7.41%), Knautia spp. (6.99%), Fabaceae (6.01%), Asteraceae (5.73%), Xanthium spp. (2.65%), Chrozophora spp. (2.45%), Plantago spp. (1.56%) and Acer spp. (1.54%) representing 88.23% of the total. Distinct variations in plant usage are seen through the year with initial use of Rosaceae, Salix, and to a lesser extent Brassicaeae. As these groups finish flowering the bees move onto Helianthus annuus, Centaurea through the summer followed by Asteraceae in the late summer and Fabaceae in the autumn. There is a strong reliance on crop species for pollen forage but a number of indigenous species are also seen within the samples. The most productive period for collecting various pollen types, and the ideal period to determine pollen preferences of honey bees was June‐August.

Determination of phenolic compounds in Prunella L. by liquid chromatography-diode array detection.

Four species of Prunella L. (Prunella vulgaris L., Prunella laciniata L., Prunella grandiflora L. and Prunella orientalis Bornm.) belong to the family of Lamiaceae and representing popular Western and Chinese herbal medicine were examined for the content of phenolic compounds. Phenolic acids (rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid), flavonoids (rutin, quercetin) in different quantitative proportions depending on extracts were determined by the rapid, selective and accurate method combining solvent/acid hydrolysis extraction and high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). Water, methanol, butanol, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, hexane and their acidic solutions were used to examine the efficiency of different solvent systems for the extraction of phenolic compounds. Acid hydrolysis extraction was established as the most suitable extraction method for phenolic compounds.

POLLEN CALENDAR OF ISPARTA, TURKEY

Pollen grains were identified using a Durham sampler in the atmosphere of Is parta during 1995 and 1996. During two years, a total of 15,660 pollen grains belonging to41 taxa, as well as unidentified pollen grains, were recorded. In 1995, 7357 pollen grains were identified and in 1996, 8303. Total pollen grains were 71% arboreal,25% non-arboreal plants, and 4% unidentified. In the region investigated, Pinus L., Cupressaceae, Gramineae, Platanus L., Quercus L., Artemisia L., Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae, and Urticaceae were responsible for the greatest amounts of pollen. The pollen concentration reached its highest level in May.

Essential Oils of Six Echinophora Species from Turkey

Abstract Dried aerial parts of Echinophora species growing in Turkey, namely, E. tenuifolia L. subsp. sihthorpiana (Guess.) Tutin, E. tournefortii Jaub. et Spach., E. orientalis Hedge et Lamond, E. chrysantha Freyn et Sint. (endemic), E. trichophylla J. E. Smith (endemic) and E. carvifolia Boiss. et Bal (endemic) were water distilled and the oils were analyzed by GC/MS. The oil of E. tenuifolia subsp. sihthorpiana contained α-phellandrene (15.5%), p-cymene (11.0%) and methyl eugenol (58.7%); the oil of E. tournefortii contained α-pinene (9.6%) and caryophyllene oxide (12.8%); the oil of E. chrysantha contained α-phellandrene (47.7%) and β-phellandrene (8.2%); the oil of E. trichophylla contained sabinene (27.3%) and 2,6-dimethyl-1,3(E),5(E),7-octatetraene (13.7%) the oil of E. carvifolia contained β-caryophyllene (5.3%) and germacrene D (31.1%) and the oil of E. orientalis contained myrcene (34.2%) and p-cymene (18.9%) as major components.

Essential Oil of Tagetes minuta L. from Turkey

ABSTRACT Water-distilled essential oil of Tagetes minuta was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Twenty-two compounds were characterized with dihydrotagetone (30.30%), (Z)-β-ocimene (28.49%) and (E)-tagetenone (15.35%) as major constituents.

Airborne pollen calendar of the central region of Bursa (Turkey)

This report describes qualitatively and quantitatively the level of pollen in the atmosphere in the central region of Bursa. Turkey. In 1991, the season of maximum pollen concentration was from April to June, with a prevalence of arboreal pollen during the initial months, and of pollen from herbaceous plants in the latter months. During the year of research, 24 taxa of arboreal and 12 taxa of herbaceous pollen grains were collected and identified. In the region investigatedPinus, Cupressaceae/Taxaceae,Abies nordmanniana, Platanus orientalis, Olea europaea, Gramineae, Urticaceae, Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae,Artemisia and Compositae were responsible for the greatest amounts of pollen. Some important allergenic pollens such asOlea europaea, Gramineae and Urticaceae were also found in high concentration. In this study, a pollen calendar for the region is presented.

Composition and Antibacterial Activity of the Essential Oil of Ferulago confusa Velen

Abstract Water-distilled essential oil from the crushed fruits of Ferulago confusa Velen, collected from Bursa: Keles-Orhaneli in Turkey, was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Ninety-one components were identified representing 99.5% of the oil. Cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (37.7%) and α-pinene (36.7%) were characterized as the main constituents. The antibacterial effects of the Ferulago confusa oil were evaluated by using microdilution broth method. The oil showed moderate inhibitory effects on the selected human pathogenic bacteria having MIC values ranging 0.6–2.5 mg/mL.

Composition of the Essential Oil of Echinophora lamondiana B.Yildiz et Z.Bahçecioglu

Abstract Essential oil from hydrodistilled herbal parts of Echinophora lamondiana (Umbelliferae), a newly described endemic species of Turkey, was analyzed by GC/MS. Forty-three compounds representing 99.1% of the oil were identified with δ-3-carene (48.0%), α-phellandrene (27.7%) and p-cymene (7.4%) as main constituents.