Mehmet Firat

Chemical profile by LC–MS/MS, GC/MS and antioxidant activities of the essential oils and crude extracts of two Euphorbia species

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the chemical composition and antioxidant activities of two Euphorbia species. The major component of the fatty acid compositions obtained from the petroleum ether extracts was identified as palmitic acid for Euphorbia gaillardotii and Euphorbia macroclada. The main constituents of the essential oils were identified as arachidic acid for E. gaillardotii and tetratetracontane for E. macroclada. Among the 27 studied compounds, hesperidin, rutin, hyperoside and quinic, malic, gallic and tannic acids were found to be the most abundant compounds in the two Euphorbia species. The methanol extracts of E. gaillardotii and E. macroclada showed strong antioxidant activity in all tested methods. Particularly, IC50 values of E. macroclada methanol extract that was the richest in terms of total phenolic-flavonoid contents were found to be lower than α-tocopherol and butylated hydroxytoluene in β-carotene bleaching, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free and ABTS cation radical scavenging methods.

Spiraea cudidaghense : a new species from south-eastern Anatolia, Turkey

A new species, Spiraea cudidaghense (sect. Spiraeoideae, Rosaceae), is described and illustrated with diagnostic characters and taxonomic comments. Its characteristics are compared with those of the type species from which it differs mainly in compound corymbs inflorescence, ovate-obovate leaves, white petals, glabrous branches and densely pilose corymbs. In addition, a map of the geographic distribution of the new species, an IUCN ranking and notes on taxonomic affinities are also provided.

Trace Elemental Analysis of Allium Species by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) with Multivariate Chemometrics

ABSTRACT Aerial parts and roots of the 12 Allium species collected from five localities of Turkey were studied for trace elements (Ag, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Se, Tl, V, and Zn) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A tomato leaves certified reference material was used to characterize the accuracy and precision of the analysis. Each Allium species contained Se (315–2740 µg/kg), Tl (2.75–71 µg/kg), V (77–6790 µg/kg), and Zn (3.73–26.6 mg/kg) which can meet the necessary daily intake of these minerals. In addition, chemometric analyses were performed using correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis to determine the association of 12 trace elements in the Allium species. Using chemometrics, the distribution of elements between aerial parts and roots, and geographic collection localities of Allium species were also examined. This study is important the consumers because of the wide consumption of Allium species. This report is the first detailed characterization of the metal content of Allium species.

Marrubium eriocephalum (Lamiaceae); a species new to the flora of Turkey, with contributions to its taxonomy

Abstract Marrubium eriocephalum (Lamiaceae) is described as a new record for the Flora of Turkey (B9 Van). A detailed morphological description, photographs, distribution map, and pollen and nutlet morphology of this new record are given.

Arabis watsonii (P.H.Davis) F.K.Mey.: An overlooked cruciferous species from eastern Anatolia and its phylogenetic position

Abstract Arabis watsonii (P.H.Davis) F.K.Mey. was initially reported as Thlaspi watsonii P.H.Davis in Flora of Turkey. Although F.K.Meyer transferred this species to Arabis L., this species has been overlooked and treated as Thlaspi L. in relevant literature for Flora of Turkey. In this study this species was evaluated using molecular (nuclear ITS and plastidic trnL-F sequences) and morphological data. Results clearly show that Arabis watsonii is sister to the Arabis hirsuta aggregate and its relatives. In conclusion, our results increased the number of known Arabis species in Turkey to 23. Furthermore, detailed description and distribution of the species are given and a new IUCN threat category for Arabis watsonii is proposed.

Pelargonium quercetorum Agnew induces apoptosis without PARP or cytokeratin 18 cleavage in non‑small cell lung cancer cell lines

Pelargonium species have various uses in folk medicine as traditional remedies, and several of them have been screened for their biological activity, including anticancer. Pelargonium quercetorum Agnew (P. quercetorum) is traditionally used for its anthelminthic activity. However, little is known about its biological activity or its effect on cancer cells. The aim of the present study was to determine the cytotoxic activity of P. quercetorum extract on lung cancer cell lines with varying properties. Following the analyses of its chemical composition, the cytotoxic activity was screened by the adenosine triphosphate viability test. M30-Apoptosense® and M65 EpiDeath® enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to determine the cell death mode (apoptosis vs. necrosis). For apoptosis, additional methods, including Annexin-V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and Hoechst 33342 staining, were employed. The cleavage of poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) was assayed by western blotting to further dissect the apoptosis mechanism. The methanol extract of P. quercetorum caused cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent manner. The mode of cell death was apoptosis, as evidenced by the positive staining of the cells for Annexin-V-FITC and the presence of pyknotic nuclei. Notably, neither PARP cleavage nor cytokeratin 18 fragmentation were observed. P.quercetorum caused cell death by an apoptosis mechanism that is slightly different from classical apoptosis. Therefore, future in vivo experiments are required for further understanding of the effect of this plant on cancer cells.

Pollen Morphology of an Endangered, Endemic Anatolian Species, Noccaea aghrica (P.H.Davis & Kit Tan) M.Fırat & Özüdoğru (Brassicaceae)

Araştırmamıza konu olan Noccaea aghrica Fırat & Özüdoğru türü ülkemizde endemik tehlike altında bir tür olup yalnızca üç lokalitede bilinmektedir. N. aghrica polenleri genellikle prolat, izopolar, trizonokolpat, retikülat yapıda olup, kolpus neredeyse kutba kadar uzanır. Polenlerin ortalama boy ve eni sırasıyla 16.89 μm ve 6.21 μm; ortalama polar ve ekvatoral eksen boyu ise 20,94 μm ve 18,89 μm olarak ölçülmüştür. Polen ölçüm sonuçları, elektron mikroskobu ve ışık mikroskobu fotoğrafları da çalışmamızda yer almaktadır.