Sukru Hayta

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.

Traditional uses of medicinal plants in Elazığ (Turkey).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE This study has identified not only the wild plants collected for medical purposes by local people of Elazığ Province in the Eastern Anatolia Region, but also the uses and local names of these plants. These resources are usually regarded as part of a culture׳s traditional knowledge. Therefore, the aim of this study is to collect information from local population concerning the use of medicinal plants of the Elazığ region; identify the most important medicinal plants used; determine the relative importance of the species surveyed and calculate the informant consensus factor (FIC) in relation to medicinal plant use. MATERIALS AND METHODS A field study had been carried out for a period of approximately 2 years (2012-2013). A questionnaire was administered to the local people, through face-to-face interviews (Appendix A). Demographic characteristics of participants, names of the local plants, their utilized parts and preparation methods were investigated and recorded. The plant species were collected within the scope of the study; herbarium materials were prepared; and the specimens were entitled. The collected data were used to calculate the FIC and the plant use values. RESULTS 74 Plants were found to be used for medical purposes before in the literature analysis of the plants used in our study, while 6 plants were found to have no literature records. Our results showed that the highest use values were recorded for the species Urtica dioica L. (0.46) and Rosa canina L. (0.42), while the highest FIC was cited for skin diseases (0.60). CONCLUSION Data obtained showed that in the studied area the folk use of plants is alive and still derives from daily practice. Evaluation of pharmacological activity for the promising medicinal plants is suggested.

Morphological, karyological and palynological investigation of endemic Centaurea kurdica Reichardt from Turkey

The purpose of this study was to determine the morphological, morphometrical, karyological and palynological features of the endemic Centaurea kurdica Reichardt species from East Anatolian region. Some morphological features of the species like morphology of capitula, involucra, involucral leaves (phyllaries) and achene have been investigated. The chromosome number of Centaurea kurdica was found as 2n = 18 and haploid karyotype formula 6m+2sm+1M. Metaphase chromosome length ranged from 5.81 to 3.91 μm and the total haploid chromosome length was 41.09 μm. The results of the light microscope investigation of pollen revealed that it is radially symmetrical, isopolar tricolporate and has spheroid-type pollen, and exine ornamentation was also determined as scabrate.

Essential oil constituents of the leaves, bark and cones of Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. oxycedrus L. from Turkey

Abstract The essential oil composition of the leaves, bark and cones of Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. oxycedrus collected from natural habitats in Bursa (Turkey) were determined by hydrodistillation, in 0.7, 0.9 and 0.7% (weight/weight) yields, respectively. The essential oils were analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. A total of 75 compounds have been identified constituting 99.5% in bark, 89.3% in leaves and 97.7% in cones of the essential oils of the taxon. The predominant compounds were α-pinene (42.9, 72.8 and 20.9%), β-pinene (3.8, 10.7 and 8.9%), β-myrcene (3.9, 5.5 and 21.7%) and limonene (17.8, 1.9 and 3.4%) in the oils from the leaves, bark and cones, respectively. Quantitative and qualitative variations were determined in the essential oil composition of different parts of the studied plant. The high amount of monoterpenes α- and β-pinene, β-myrcene, limonene and the sesquiterpene germacrene D make the studied taxon a privileged potential source for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and industrial products. The essential oil composition of different parts of Juniper oxycedrus from Bursa (Turkey) confirm the relevance of the medicinal usage of these plant parts.

Comparative morphological, karyological and palynological investigations of three endemic Centaurea L. species (Asteraceae) in Turkey

Abstract Centaurea derderiifolia Wagenitz., Centaurea drabifolia Sm. subsp. floccosa (Boiss.) Wagenitz & Greuter and Centaurea kotschyi (Boiss. & Heldr.) Hayek var. floccosa (Boiss.) Wagenitz, which are endemic taxa from Turkey belonging to Centaurea sect. Cheirolepis, were subjected to morphological, karyological and palynological investigations. The somatic chromosome numbers, pollen morphology and detailed morphometric properties were examined. The somatic chromosome numbers were determined as 2n =2x = 36 in C. derderiifolia, C. kotschyi var. floccosa, and C. drabifolia subsp. floccosa. Karyotype analysis indicated that chromosomes of these Centaurea taxa generally have median region (m), submedian region (sm) and rarely median point (M) karyotypes. The pollen morphology of these endemic taxa of the genus Centaurea was investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy. The pollen grains of the examined species are mainly isopolar and radially symmetric, subprolate, tricolporate. Tectum ornamentation is scabrate and scabrate-perforate, amb triangular. The pollen grains of all taxa studied are 3-zonocolporate. The colpus is usually long, acute at ends and with smooth membrane. Pollen grains belonging to Cheirolepis section reveal homogeneity in their characters.

Composition of the Essential Oil of Endemic Psephellus pyrrhoblephara Boiss. (Asteraceae) From Turkey

Abstract The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from endemic Psephellus pyrrhoblephara Boiss. (Asteraceae) from Turkey was analyzed by GC and GC-MS system. Thirty nine components in aerial parts of Psephellus pyrrhoblephara were identified, representing 87.0 % of the oils. The main constituents of the oil were found as 8,9-dihydroneolongifolene, (27.0 %), 9,10-dehydroisolongifolene, (10.8 %), Decahydronaphthalene, (10.6 %), and β-caryophyllene (6.5 %). The results were discussed with the genus pattern in terms of chemotaxonomy and natural products.