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.

Hypericum olympicum L. recovers DNA damage and prevents MMP-9 activation induced by UVB in human dermal fibroblasts.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hypericum olympicum L. (Hypericaceae) flowering aerial parts has been utilized in Turkish folk medicine as a remedy against inflamed skin problems. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study was designed to state the effect of H. olympicum on dermatological problems. For this purpose effect of the plant extract on the DNA strand break and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity of human dermal fibroblast (HDFs) cells irradiated with UVB as well as antioxidant activity potential were studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The methanolic extract of Hypericum olympicum (HOM) was prepared by maceration at room temperature. DNA damage and increased MMP-9 activity in HDFs were induced by UVB irradiation. The cell viability was measured by water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST)-1 assay. The effects on DNA strand break was investigated by single gel electrophoresis (commonly known as Comet assay), while MMP-9 activity was observed by gelatin zymography assay. In vitro antioxidant tests were performed to indicate the effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS). The major metabolites were identified and their concentrations were measured by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). RESULTS: HOM was found to recover DNA damage dose-dependently. The enzymatic activity of MMP-9 was inhibited almost 100% by the treatment of 1.5 mg/mL of the extract. It also enhanced cell proliferation in those cells, and also it was shown to possess antioxidant activity. The major metabolites of HOM were identified as chlorogenic acid and quercetin glycosides (rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin). CONCLUSION: Experimental studies have proven the traditional use of Hypericum olympicum in inflamed skin problems acting by inhibition of the inflammatory pathway and recovery of DNA damage induced experimentally.

Evaluation of in vitro antiprotozoal activity of Ajuga laxmannii and its secondary metabolites.

Context Some Ajuga L. (Lamiaceae) species are traditionally used for the treatment of malaria, as well as fever, which is a common symptom of many parasitic diseases. Objective In the continuation of our studies on the identification of antiprotozoal secondary metabolites of Turkish Lamiaceae species, we have investigated the aerial parts of Ajuga laxmannii. Materials and methods The aerial parts of A. laxmannii were extracted with MeOH. The H2O subextract was subjected to polyamide, C18-MPLC and SiO2 CCs to yield eight metabolites. The structures of the isolates were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and MS analyses. The extract, subextracts as well as the isolates were tested for their in vitro antiprotozoal activities against Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanasoma brucei rhodesiense, T. cruzi and Leishmania donovani at concentrations of 90-0.123 µg/mL. Results Two iridoid glycosides harpagide (1) and 8-O-acetylharpagide (2), three o-coumaric acid derivatives cis-melilotoside (3), trans-melilotoside (4) and dihydromelilotoside (5), two phenylethanoid glycosides verbascoside (6) and galactosylmartynoside (7) and a flavone-C-glycoside, isoorientin (8) were isolated. Many compounds showed moderate to good antiparasitic activity, with isoorientin (8) displaying the most significant antimalarial potential (an IC50 value of 9.7 µg/mL). Discussion and conclusion This is the first report on the antiprotozoal evaluation of A. laxmannii extracts and isolates. Furthermore, isoorientin and dihydromelilotoside are being reported for the first time from the genus Ajuga.

Characterization of Volatile Compounds of Eleven Achillea Species from Turkey and Biological Activities of Essential Oil and Methanol Extract of A. hamzaoglui Arabaci & Budak.

According to distribution of genus Achillea, two main centers of diversity occur in S.E. Europe and S.W. Asia. Diversified essential oil compositions from Balkan Peninsula have been numerously reported. However, report on essential oils of Achillea species growing in Turkey, which is one of the main centers of diversity, is very limited. This paper represents the chemical compositions of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of eleven Achillea species, identified simultaneously by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The main components were found to be 1,8-cineole, p-cymene, viridiflorol, nonacosane, α-bisabolol, caryophyllene oxide, α-bisabolon oxide A, ß-eudesmol, 15-hexadecanolide and camphor. The chemical principal component analysis based on thirty compounds identified three species groups and a subgroup, where each group constituted a chemotype. This is the first report on the chemical composition of A. hamzaoglui essential oil; as well as the antioxidant and antimicrobial evaluation of its essential oil and methanolic extract.

Inferences from an ethnobotanical field expedition in the selected locations of Sivas and Yozgat provinces (Turkey).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: This study was aimed to ascertain the present situation of the traditional knowledge on wild plant utilization for medicinal and dietary purposes in two neighboring provinces, Sivas and Yozgat located in the eastern threshold of Anatolia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Information was collected by face-to-face interviews with 300 individuals in 20 selected sites. The demographic characteristics of the informants were evaluated and cross-relationships with the recorded data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software. In order to justify the information reliability, "informant's consensus factor" (F(IC)) was estimated and to find the local importance of taxa "use value" (UV) were estimated. RESULTS: Altogether 166 utilizations recorded in the surveyed area were obtained from 100 taxa belonging to 38 plant families. Among these utilizations 89 were medicinal, 54 were used as foodstuff or spice, and 23 were for various other ethnobotanical (animal fodder, etc.) purposes. Those with the highest number of utilized taxa, Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae and Polygonaceae members were employed for various purposes. Respiratory system disorders and gastrointestinal ailments were the most frequently referred to disease categories for which plant remedies were utilized for treatment. CONCLUSION: The area surveyed is known to have a high rate of migration from countrysides to metropolitan areas in Turkey or abroad to procure employment. Therefore, results of this ethnobotanical survey were important to find out the present situation of traditional knowledge in the area. Demographic data revealed that most of the inhabitants were remigrants from an urban area. Another encouraging point in terms of the Turkish ethnobotanical repository is that they still practice the information transmitted from their ancestors even after long dwelling in metropolitan areas.