Ümit Budak

Achillea hamzaoglui (Asteraceae), a new species from Turkey.

Achillea hamzaoglui Arabaci & Budak sp. nova (Achillea sect. Santolinoidea), is described from Kirşehir Province, inner Anatolia, Turkey. It is compared with Achillea sintenisii and A. goniocephala. Diagnostic characters, as well as a full description, a key to related species and figures of new species are provided.

Silene ozyurtii (Caryophyllaceae), a New Species from Anatolia, Turkey

A new species, Silene ozyurtii Aksoy & Hamzaoğlu (Caryophyllaceae), is described from the north parts of western Taurus facing central Anatolia, between the Konya and Isparta provinces, in southwest Anatolia, Turkey. The species is compared with morphologically similar taxa in sect. Tunicoideae.

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Senecio species growing in the Black Sea region, Turkey

Abstract Total phenolic contents, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of methanol extracts of six Senecio species growing in the Black Sea region of Turkey (S. pandurifolius, S. trapezuntinus, S. integrifolius subsp. aucheri, S. hypochionaeus var. argaeus, S. hypochionaeus var. ilkasiensis and S. orentii) are investigated. The total phenolic content is analysed using Folin- Ciocalteus reagent of the methanol extracts and varies from 19.54 to 81.78 mg GAE/g dry extract. The methanol extracts of the studied species possess antioxidant properties in the range of 70.07–165.21 mg AAE/g dry extract in phosphomolybde- num assay. S. hypochionaeus var. ilkasiensis extract shows maximum activity with an IC50 of 15.94 μg/ml in DPPH free radical scavenging assay. All of the Senecio methanol extracts show similar antimicrobial activities against microorganisms tested by agar diffusion methods. Klebsiella pneumoniae is the most sensitive microorganism to the all extracts examined while Escherichia coli and Candida albicans are the most resistant one.

In Vitro Genotoxic Effects of Four Helichrysum Species in Human Lymphocytes Cultures

Helichrysum sanguineum, Helichrysum pamphylicum, Helichrysum orientale, Helichrysum noeanum (Asteraceae) are medicinal plants. For centuries, they have been used as tea in Turkey because of their medicinal properties. So far no scientific evidence has been found in a literature survey regarding the genotoxic effects of these plants. This work evaluated the genotoxic effects on human lymphocyte cultures induced by methanol extracts of these plants, assayed in different concentrations (0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/mL). According to the results, Helichrysum noeanum, Helichrysum pamphylicum and Helichrysum sanguineum induced the formation of micronuclei and decreased the mitotic and replication indexes. Helichrysum orientale did not affect these parameters, whereas Helichrysum noeanum, Helichrysum pamphylicum and Helichrysum sanguineum were clearly genotoxic. They should therefore not be used freely in alternative medicine, although their antiproliferative activity may suggest antimitotic and anticarcinogenic properties. Helichrysum orientale could be used in alternative medicine.

Gypsophila yusufeliensis (Caryophyllaceae), a new species from Turkey

Gypsophila yusufeliensis Budak sp. nova (Caryophyllaceae) is described from Yusufeli (Artvin province, Turkey). It resembels especially G. patrinii. The diagnostic characters, as well as a full description and figures of new species are provided.

The genotoxic and antimitotic properties of Helichrysum plicatum herbal teas widely consumed in Turkey.

Abstract Helichrysum plicatum DC. subsp. plicatum (Asteraceae), (common name; everlasting) is a medicinal plant and natural product. For centuries, it has been used as tea in Turkey because of its medicinal properties. There are few reports in literature about genotoxic effects of this plant. The aim of this work is to evaluate the genotoxic and antimitotic effects on human lymphocyte cultures induced by aqueous (decoction) extracts of this plant which were assayed in different concentrations (0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/mL). Helichrysum plicatum subsp. plicatum extracts used in alternative medicine induced the formation of micronuclei, decreased the mitotic and replication indexes compared to untreated group (control). Indeed, it causes chromosomal damage (an increase in micronucleus) and delay in the cell division (decrease in mitotic and replication indexes). It should therefore not be used freely in high concentrations in alternative medicine although its antiproliferative activity may suggest as an antimitotic product.

Phryna hamzaoglui Koç & Budak (Caryophyllaceae), a new species from Central Anatolia, Turkey

Abstract A new species Phrynahamzaoglui was discovered in Hekimhan (Turkey, Malatya province) where it grows on hillsides. The P.hamzaoglui and P.ortegioides were compared with each other in terms of their general morphology and seed micromorphology. Description, distribution, illustration and conservation status of the new species are given. Seed lateral and surface, cells, anticlinal cell walls, periclinal cell walls structures were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The images were captured with the 500×, 100×, and 40× objective lens for the details.