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WOS: 000320901600021, This paper describes isolation and indentification of HHCP (Galaxolide (R)) as pollutant in red alga Laurencia pyramidalis Bory de Saint-Vincent ex Kutzing (Syn. Laurencia obtusa var. pyramidata Bory ex J. Agardh) collected from Igneada (Black Sea coast) by GC/MS analysis. It was previously found as a pollutant in Danube River which consequently contaminates the Black Sea. It was suggested that this is a contamination of alga because it was not found in the same species collected from Assos (Canakkale). This is the first record of HHCP contamination in algae.

Karyotypes in 16 representative taxa of the Ophrys genus are compared, based on Feulgen-stained somatic metaphase chromosomes. The karyotypes of O. omegaifera subsp. israelitica, O. ulupinara, O. lycia, O. argolica subsp. lucis, O. argolica subsp. lesbis, O. climacis and O. reinholdii subsp. reinholdii are described for the first time. Karyological analyses indicate relationships among the species with respect to their asymmetry indices. All Ophrys taxa studied were diploid with 2n = 2x = 36 chromosomes. One B chromosome has been detected among the chromosomes of O. argolica subsp. lucis. All karyotypes are symmetrical, consisting of metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes. The longest chromosomes of all the investigated specimens contain a secondary constriction. It is determined that there is a correlation between the total number of chromosomes having secondary constrictions and the evolutionary development order of the taxa. Based on nuclear DNA content, analysis was carried out by flow cytometer using propodium iodide as fluorochrome, 2C nuclear DNA content of 16 Ophrys species varying between 20.80 pg (O. argolica subsp. lucis) and 23.11 pg (O. omegaifera subsp. israelitica). Karyotype asymmetry relationships are discussed according to the bidimensional scatter plots of A1–A2, CVCL–CVCI, CVCL–MCA and CVCI–MCA. © 2017 Società Botanica Italiana.

Marine alkaloids have their origins from marine organisms including marine macroalgae. On the other hand, some marine algal alkaloids such as phenylethylamine derivatives were previously isolated from terrestrial plants. The other groups of alkaloids like indole derivatives and halogenated alkaloids are specific for algae. Most of the indole group alkaloids are concentrated in red algae. Green algae are rich of bromine- and chloride-containing alkaloids. These halogenated alkaloids of algae are not present in terrestrial plants and are specific for algae and sea organisms. Marine algae contain 44 alkaloids, consisting of 1 phenylethylamine, 41 indole, and 1 naphthyridine derivates. In the halogenated alkaloid group, there are 25 bromine-containing compounds, among which 7 have chlorine and 5 have sulfur, additionally. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.

Constituents of marine algae gained importance in the last four decades due to the growing interest in their potential for medicinal use. Till today, 44 alkaloids were isolated from macroalgae; some of which were reported to induce important pharmacological effects. These alkaloids can be classified under four groups as 2-phenylethylamine, indole, halogenated indole, and 2,7-naphthyridine derivatives, and each group displays a relatively distinguished activity profile. Overall, pharmacological effect spectrum of macroalga alkaloids is wide and includes neuromodulation, neurotransmission, growth regulation, cytotoxicity, angiogenesis, antioxidation as well as antibacterial, antifungal, and larvicidal activities. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.

WOS: 000321163000043, PubMed ID: 23588094, Ethnopharmacological relevance: Sweetgum, Styrax liquidus (Turkish sweetgum) is a resinous exudate obtained from the wounded barks of Liquidambar orientalis Miller tree which belongs to Altingiaceae (Hamamelidaceae). The plant material has been used for the treatment of peptic ulcer symptoms in Turkish folk medicine since centuries. In order to evaluate the claimed activity, we studied the anti-ulcerogenic effect of Styrax liquidus by using an in vivo anti-ulcerogenic activity model and to determine the chemical composition of the balsam. Materials and methods: Anti-ulcerogenic effects of the balsam "Styrax liquidus" itself and its fractions obtained by successive solvent extractions with chloroform and n-butanol, were investigated against the ethanol-induced peptic ulcer model in rats. The chloroform extract demonstrated a statistically significant gastroprotective effect. In addition, the chemical characterization of the volatiles obtained by microdistillation technique from the balsam and the sub-extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC MS), respectively. Results: Pharmacological experiments have clearly demonstrated that 150 and 300 mg/kg doses of Styrax liquidus given orally to rats showed significant gastric protection. On GC MS analysis of the resin, overall, 31 compounds representing 99.8% of the total oil were identified where styrene (81.9%), cinnamyl alcohol (6.9%) and alpha-pinene (3.5%) were identified as the major components. Conclusion: Present study confirmed the anti-ulcerogenic activity of the local ethnobotanical usage of Styrax liquidus in Turkey, Research Foundation of Gazi University [EF-02/2001-6], This study was financially supported by Research Foundation of Gazi University (No: EF-02/2001-6). This work was presented in BIHAT (Plant Originated Crude Drug Symposium), October 2010, Mersin-Turkey.