Ismail Turkoglu

Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants in Maden (Elazig-Turkey).

AIM OF THE STUDY This study aimed to identify wild plants collected for medical purposes by the local people of Maden County, located in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, and to establish the uses and local names of these plants. MATERIALS AND METHODS Field study was carried out over a period of approximately 2 years (2008-2010). During this period, 131 vascular plant specimens were collected. Demographic characteristics of participants, local plant names, utilized parts and preparation methods of the plants were investigated and recorded. In the scope of the study, the plant species were collected; herbarium materials were prepared; and the specimens were entitled. The Zazas are of the major ethnic group in the region. In addition, the relative importance value of the species was determined and informant consensus factor (FIC) was calculated for the medicinal plants included in the study. RESULTS A total of 88 medical plants belonging to 41 families were identified in the region. 4 plants out of 88 were recorded to be used for curative purposes for the first time. It was determined that the local names of four different kinds of plants used in Maden were same as the different kinds of plants used in different regions. The most encountered medicinal plant families were Urticaceae (>21%), Rosaceae and Lamiaceae (>17% of use-reports), Asteraceae (>13%), Fabaceae (>8%), Brassicaceae (>7%), Poaceae (>4%); the most common preparations were decoction and infusion. Mentha spicata L. subsp. spicata, Rosa canina L. and Urtica dioica L. was the plants most used by the local people. Anthemis wiedemanniana Fisch. and Mey., Bunium paucifolium DC. var. brevipes (Freyn & Sint.) Hedge & Lam., Tchihatchewia isatidea Boiss., Thymus haussknechtii Velen. were found to be the endemic plants used for medical purposes in Maden, Turkey. The medicinal uses of Bunium paucifolium DC. var. brevipes (Freyn & Sint.) Hedge & Lam., Hippophae rhamnoides L. subsp. caucasica Roussi, Gladiolus atroviolaceus Boiss., Ixiolirion tataricum (Pallas) Herbert subsp. montanum (Labill.) Takht. were recorded for the first time. CONCLUSION Herbal treatment has become a tradition for the residents of the study region. These plants, which are used in the treatment of many diseases. Comparison of the data obtained in this study from the plants growing in Maden with the experimental data obtained in the previous laboratory studies proved most of the ethnobotanical usages. Literature review showed that curative plants of Maden are used in different parts of the world in the treatment of the same or similar diseases. If a plant is used to treat the same disease in different places across the world then its pharmacologic effect could be accepted. It would be beneficial to conduct pharmacologic studies on such plants. These plants, used in the treatment of many different diseases, are in this region at abundant amounts. Drying enabled local people to use medicinal plants during all seasons of the year. This study identified not only the wild plants collected for medical purposes by local people of Maden County in the Eastern Anatolia Region, but also the uses and local names of these plants. It is tried to generate a source for persons studying in ethnobotany, pharmacology and chemistry sciences by comparing knowledge gained from traditionally used herbs with previous laboratory studies.

Karyological notes on another eight species of Achillea (Asteraceae) from Turkey

The chromosome number and morphology in eight species of the sections Ptarmica (Mill.) W. D. J. Koch, Anthemoideae (DC.) Heimerl, Arthrolepis Boiss., Santolinoideae (DC.) Heimerl and Achillea of the genus Achillea L. (Asteraceae) were investigated using karyological techniques. Sample plants and seeds of A. biserrata M. Bieb., A. fraasii var. troiana Aschers. & Heimerl, A. multifida (DC.) Boiss., A. brachyphylla Boiss. & Hausskn., A. pseudaleppica Hub.-Mor., A. cretica L., A. latiloba Ledeb. ex Nordm., and A. kotschyi Boiss. subsp. kotschyi) were collected from natural habitats in 2003 and 2004. The chromosome number found in seven species was 2n = 18, while only A. kotschyi had 2n = 36. All chromosomes had median point (M), median region (m), and submedian (sm) centromers. In addition, only A. biserrata species had one subterminal (st) chromosome. An increase in asymmetry was not observed in the karyotypes of the species studied. None of the studied species had any B chromosomes.

Karyological investigation of six Achillea L. (Asteraceae) species growing in Turkey

The chromosome number and morphology in six species of the sections Babounya (DC.) O. Hoffm. and Achillea of the genus Achillea L. (Asteraceae) were investigated using karyological techniques. Sample plants and seeds of A. santolinoides Lag. subsp. wilhelmsii (K. Koch.) Greuter, A. falcata L., A. magnifica Hub. - Mor., A. pannonica Scheele, A. crithmifolia Waldst. & Kit. and A. nobilis L. subsp neilreichii (A. Kern.) Formánek were collected from natural habitats in 2005. The chromosome number found in six species was 2n = 18. All chromosomes had median point (M), median region (m), and submedian (sm) centromers. An increase in asymmetry was not observed in the karyotypes of the species studied. None of the studied species had any B chromosomes.

The investigation of some bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties of hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna subsp. monogyna Jacq).

Aim: The antioxidant and pharmacological effects of hawthorn have mainly been attributed to the polyphenolic contents. The aim of this research is to determine some bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties of hawthorn aqueous and ethanol extracts of leaves, flowers, and ripened fruits. Materials and Methods: For this purpose, antioxidant activities of extracts were assessed on DPPH•, ABTS•+, superoxide scavenging, reducing power and ferrous metal chelating activity assays and phenolic content of extracts was determined by Folin—Cioacalteu’s reagent. Results: The flavonoids including rutin, apigenin, myricetin, quercetin, naringenin and kaempferol, were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography in the hawthorn extract. Conclusion: It was observed the aqueous and ethanol extracts of Crataegus monogyna subsp. monogyna fruits showed the highest activity in reducing power and metal chelating activity assays. In addition, it was determined that the aqueous flower extract showed higher flavonoid content than aqueous leaves extract. The antioxidant and pharmacological effects of hawthorn have mainly been attributed to the polyphenolic contents.

Some Biological Compounds, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Endemic Hypericum uniglandulosum

We stadied some biologically active compounds, radical scavenging capacities, and antimicrobial activities in Hypericum uniglandulosum extracts. It was found that palmitic acid (12.16 ± 0.69%), oleic acid (3.45 ± 0.17%), and α-linolenic acid (17.15 ± 0.84%) were the dominant fatty acids in the extracts. It was concluded that the extracts contained stigmasterol (52.60 ± 0.57 μg/g), α-tocopherol (29.2 ± 0.54 μg/g), cholesterol (66.16 ± 0.78 μg/g), and as well as β-sitosterol (289.33 ± 4.96 μg/g). It was also determined that the methanol extracts were the most effective against free radicals. The results of the present study show the potent antimicrobial activity of H. uniglandulosum constituents suggesting that they deserve further consideration as novel antibacterial agents.

Phytochemical Compounds and Biological Activities of Celtis tournefortii Fruits

Abstract It is known that Celtis species have been used in healing wound, epilepsy crisis, and stomach pain among the people. The antiradical (DPPH, OH, ABTS) activities, phytochemical compounds (total proanthocyanidin, total flavonoid, total phenolic, flavonoids, phenolic acids, sterols, lipid soluble vitamins, fatty acids), antimicrobial, antiproliferative (MCF-7, HCT-116, A2780, PC-3) activities of water, ethanol, methanol extracts of C. tournefortii fruits were evaluated in this study. All the C. tournefortii fruit water extracts were higher scavenged OH radical than standard antioxidant BHT. It was detected that C. tournefortii includes high amount of α-tocopherol (2.65 mg/kg), vitamin D (10.05 mg/kg), ergosterol (78.70 mg/kg), stigmasterol (185.90 mg/kg), unsaturated fatty acids (74.47%). C. tournefortii extracts showed antiproliferative activity on MCF-7, HCT-116, A2780, PC-3 cancer cell lines and antimicrobial activity on some microorganisms when compared to standard antibiotics. Also, this study is the first report about phytochemical contents, antiproliferative, antimicrobial, antiradical properties of C. tournefortii fruits.

Compositions of seed fatty acids in some Astragalus L. taxa from Turkey

Abstract Fatty acid composition in mature seeds of nine Astragalus L. taxa were determined by using gas chromatography. Present results indicated that the seed oils of studied taxa have palmitic acid (C16:0), oleic acid (C18:1 n 9), linoleic acid (C18:2 n 6) and linolenic acid (C18:3 n 3) as major fatty acids. Palmitic acid composition of nine Astragalus was found between 8.5 ± 0.3415.8 ± 0.1%. Also, present study reported stearic acid (C18:0) contents of studied Astragalus are more stable (2.2 ± 0.16–3.4 ± 0.26%). The highest oleic acid (C18:1 n 9) content was found in A. christianus (41.7 ± 0.31 %) but it was found at the lowest level in A. asterias (9.1 ± 0.03 %). In addition, present study determined that investigated Astragalus species have highest linoleic acid (21.0 ± 0.31–39.4 ± 1.81%) and linolenic acid (18.9 ± 0.11–48.9 ± 0.5%) contents.