Chymotrypsin and Trypsin Inhibitory Activity of Some Medicinal Plants Collected from Rize (Türkiye).

In this research, the evaluation of in vitro chymotrypsin and trypsin inhibitory activities of ten plant species collected from Rize were aimed, and fractions that showed strong activity were analyzed through HPLC. Daphne pontica L. and Mentha longifolia (L.) L. were found to have the highest chymotrypsin inhibitory activities (87.75 and 84.24 % inhibition). Similarly, the highest trypsin inhibitory activity was observed in D. pontica (%99.93 inhibition), followed by Sambucus ebulus L. flowers (87.47 % inhibition). Extracts showing strong enzyme inhibition were fractioned and subjected to activity tests. The highest chymotrypsin inhibitory activity was observed in the n-hexane fraction of D. pontica (%80.70 inhibition), while the highest trypsin inhibitory activity was found in the n-butanol fraction of S. ebulus (%86.81 inhibition). HPLC studies determined that the 80 % ethanol extract of D. pontica and its dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions contained umbelliferone. It was found that chlorogenic acid was present in the 80 % ethanol extracts of S. ebulus flowers. M. longifolia was found to contain chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, luteolin-7-glucoside, and rosmarinic acid. M. longifolia has been identified as the plant exhibiting the highest antioxidant activity in ABTS and CUPRAC tests, consistent with its high phenolic and flavonoid content.

The five Ferulago species inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis of A549, MCF-7, PC3 and SW480 cancer cells in vitro.

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic and apoptotic activities of ethanolic extracts prepared from the roots of 5 Ferulago species [F. humilis Boiss., F. macrosciadia Boiss. & Balansa, F. sandrasica Pesmen & Quézel, F. silaifolia (Boiss.) Boiss., F. trojana Akalin & Pimenov] on various human cancer cell lines. The cytotoxicity analyses against human lung (A549), breast (MCF-7), prostate (PC3) and colon (SW480) cancer cell lines were determined by MTT test; while the apoptotic effect was evaluated by Annexin V binding assay. All studied extracts showed concentration-dependent cytotoxic activity with an IC50 value ranging from 0.416 to 5.336 mg/mL. The studied Ferulago species significantly induced apoptosis of cancer cells, while F. macrosciadia had the highest apoptotic activity on MCF-7 cells with 21.79 ± 1.63% apoptotic cell population (p < 0.0001). In addition, felamedin and prantschimgin content of the extracts, which are common coumarins in Ferulago species, were evaluated by HPLC. According to HPLC analysis, the highest amount of felamedin content was found in F. trojana, while the highest content of prantschimgin was found in F. sandrasica among the studied Ferulago species. This preliminary research has revealed that the studied Ferulago species have promising effects on various cancer cell lines. Further studies are planned to determine the compounds responsible for the effect and underlying mechanism.

Antibacterial, antifungal and enzyme inhibitory effects of selected plants from Turkey.

In this study, antibacterial, antifungal, antihyaluronidase, anticollagenase and antielastase activity of Hypericum bithynicum, Malva neglecta, Morus alba, Rubus discolor, Sambucus ebulus and Smilax excelsa were investigated. Methanol extracts of M. neglecta and R. discolor and all extracts of H. bithynicum were more active against Staphylococcus epidermidis. Similarly, water extracts of M. alba and S. ebulus were more active against Streptococcus pneumonia. Additionally, S. ebulus and S. excelsa had prominent antifungal activity on Candida albicans. Besides, methanol extract of M. neglecta and n-hexane extract of H. bithynicum were determined to have significant antihyaluronidase activity. Only R. discolor showed significant antielastase effect.

Ethnopharmacobotanical Findings of Medicinal Plants in the Kizilcahamam District of Ankara, Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: Folk medicines in Kizilcihamam has not been investigated in detail so far. Thus, this study aimed to conduct a comprehensive investigation of folk medicine in the Kizilcahamam district. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine scientific field trips were organized to Kizilcahamam between April 2007 and July 2008. Data were obtained by field interviews with local people using open and semi-structured questionnaires. Results were evaluated statistically with the "use-value", "informant consensus factor" and cultural importance index. RESULTS: Sixty-five species (69 taxa) that belong to 58 genera of 31 families were determined to be used as folk medicines. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to record four of these species as folk medicines. Plants from Compositae, Lamiaceae and Rosaceae families were used most frequently as folk medicines in Kizilcahamam. Plants in the study area are mainly used for gastrointestinal system problems, respiratory disorders, and urinary tract diseases. Residents from 41% of the villages where the scientific trips were carried out, declared that they are not using or interested in folk medicines. CONCLUSION: This study highlights once again the gradual reduction of folk medicinal knowledge and the urgent need for folk medicine investigations in all parts of Turkey.

Investigations on the anti-ulcerogenic activity of Sideritis caesarea H. Duman, Aytaç & Baser.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Aerial parts of Sideritis caesarea H. Duman, Aytaç & Baser are used for complaints such as stomach-aches, and intestinal spasms as traditional medicine in Kayseri, Turkey. AIM OF STUDY: To investigate the anti-ulcerogenic activity by using bioassay guided fractionation technique (BAGF) and to identify the compound(s) that are responsible for anti-ulcerogenic activity through ethanol-induced anti-ulcerogenic activity model in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Liquid-liquid partition and then different chromatographic techniques were utilized for the BAGF of the ethanol (80%) extract of the aerial parts of Sideritis caesarea. Ethanol-induced gastric ulcer method on rats was employed for the determination of the anti-ulcerogenic activity, and the ulcer index was also calculated for anti-ulcerogenic activity detection. RESULTS: The ethanol (80%) extract of S. caesarea showed statistically potent anti-ulcerogenic activity (95.9% ulcer inhibition, p < 0.001). Among the liquid-liquid fractions, strongest anti-ulcerogenic activity was observed with the ethyl acetate fraction (91.4% inhibition, p < 0.001) and therefore BAGF studies were proceeded with the ethyl acetate fraction. Two anti-ulcerogenic flavonoids {4'-O-methylhypolaetin-7-O-[6‴-O-acetyl-ß-D-allopyranosyl-(1→2)]-6″-O-acetyl-ß-D-glucopyranoside and isoscutellarein-7-O-[6‴-O-acetyl-ß-D-allopyranosyl-(1→2)]-6″-O-acetyl-ß-D-glucopyranoside} were isolated from this fraction together with a sesquiterpene glycoside [(2E,6E)-2,6,10-trimethyl-2,6,11-dodecatriene-1,10-diol-1-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside] and two additional flavonoids {4'-O-methylhypolaetin-7-O-[6‴-O-acetyl-ß-D-allopyranosyl-(1→2)]-ß-D-glucopyranoside and isoscutellarein-7-O-[6‴-O-acetyl-ß-D-allopyranosyl-(1→2)]-ß-D-glucopyranoside}. CONCLUSIONS: Traditional use of S. caesarea in the treatment of stomach-aches was supported by this study and four flavonoids were isolated by using BAGF method and two of them were determined to have significant anti-ulcerogenic activity. Additionally, (2E,6E)-2,6,10-trimethyl-2,6,11-dodecatriene-1,10-diol-1-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside was obtained from a Sideritis genus for the first time.

Antibacterial, antifungal and enzyme inhibitory effects of selected plants from Turkey.

In this study, antibacterial, antifungal, antihyaluronidase, anticollagenase and antielastase activity of Hypericum bithynicum, Malva neglecta, Morus alba, Rubus discolor, Sambucus ebulus and Smilax excelsa were investigated. Methanol extracts of M. neglecta and R. discolor and all extracts of H. bithynicum were more active against Staphylococcus epidermidis. Similarly, water extracts of M. alba and S. ebulus were more active against Streptococcus pneumonia. Additionally, S. ebulus and S. excelsa had prominent antifungal activity on Candida albicans. Besides, methanol extract of M. neglecta and n-hexane extract of H. bithynicum were determined to have significant anti-hyaluronidase activity. Only R. discolor showed significant anti-elastase effect.