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Background: Plants, with their rich phytochemical treasury, are one of the main sources of drug development. However, a randomized search on plant sources for the discovery of phytochemicals with specified pharmacological activity is expensive and tedious. Therefore, it is logical to constrain the sources to increase success. In the recent four decades, the importance of traditional information has been recognized by the scientific community. Consequently, interest in field surveys for the documentation of traditional worldwide medicines has significantly increased. Aims and Methods: Infectious diseases induced by pathogenic bacteria, fungi, or viruses have been one of the most common health problems for the public, for which traditional remedies have been practiced. Since laypeople could not distinguish the microbial origin of the infection, the remedies used for treatment could not be delineated. The aim of this study was first to search the plants used in Turkish folk medicine for such infectious diseases. The second step was to find scientific evidence in the online databases for the frequently quoted plants whether they may have potential activity against virus replication. Results: A reference survey on the most frequently quoted plants revealed that 16 out of 17 were shown to possess virucide or inhibitory effects on the replication of various viruses. Conclusion: Since each virus type may have a different viral replication pattern, further detailed investigations should be carried out to reveal their exact antiviral potentials.

The genus Salvia is regarded as an important medicinal plant and also as spice worldwide. Current report might be counted as one of the first investigations to reveal the enzyme inhibitory and antiglycation activities, together with phenolic and antioxidant profiles of 80% methanolic extract prepared from the aerial parts of S.virgata (SVM). Furthermore, the bioavailability parameters of major phenolic compounds in SVM were evaluated. An in vitro human digestion simulation model composed of both gastric and intestinal phases was used for this purpose. Total phenolic, phenolic acid and flavonoid components of each of these phases were calculated in order to assess the phenolic profile of the samples. In addition, quantitative analysis of major bioactive compounds (rutin and rosmarinic acid), before and after the simulation, was practiced by employing High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) system. Moreover, the potential of non-digested (ND) and bioavailable (IN) phases on the inhibition of diabetes-related enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) was determined. Also, the inhibitory effect of the samples on the advanced glycation end products (AGEs), formed due to hyperglycemia, was detected. In addition, cholinesterase enzyme inhibition activity of both ND and IN samples was determined. Since, the role of oxidative stress on diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases is well-known, the antioxidant potential of the samples was also estimated by different methods: DPPH and DMPD tests for free radical scavenging activity, FRAP and CUPRAC tests for metal reducing activity and total antioxidant capacity test, as well. The results showed that total phenolic contents, antioxidant potential and diabetes-related and cholinesterase enzymes inhibition of the bioavailable phase were lower than non-digested sample. Besides, in vitro human digestion simulation system had a declining influence on the concentrations of the major bioactive metabolites (rutin and rosmarinic acid).

The genus Hypericum has been utilized in traditional medicine in several parts of the world since ancient times. The utmost activities have been associated with the natural pharmaceuticals prepared from Hypericum species due to their unique chemical profile. In the present study, Hypericum olympicum L. extracts before and after being processing in an in vitro simulated digestion system were submitted to in vitro anti-diabetic assays, i.e., α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition assays and antiglycation assay. The formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) is one of the most precursor molecules for the complications of diabetes mellitus. In oxidative stress conditions, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and AGEs production increase significantly inside the cells. Furthermore, mechanistically different antioxidant assays, including free radical scavenging and metal-reducing activities, and the total antioxidant capacity assay were conducted. Major flavonoid glycosides (rutin, hyperoside and isoquercitrin) and the main phenolic acid (chlorogenic acid) in the extracts and their bioaccessibilities were also determined by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). The results indicated that amounts of all phenolic compounds analyzed in this study increased throughout in vitro simulated gastric system in comparison with non-digested fraction. Moreover, the results demonstrated that anti-diabetic activity and antioxidant capacity of the extract increased remarkably following the simulation process.

Aerial part preparations of Cistus creticus L., Cistaceae, are traditionally used in Anatolia as a hemostatic agent. The air-dried aerial parts were extracted with methanol. Gels were prepared, followed by the hemostatic activity evaluation using Wistar albino rats in vivo tail tip amputation model. The chemical characterization of the total extract was performed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography. The methanol extract was loaded to a hydrogel base to complete a concentration of 2.5 and 7.5%. As a result, the 2.5% extract gel was found more effective on both bleeding time and amount. Hyperoside and tiliroside, which may be the components responsible for the hemostatic properties of the analyzed plant material, were dereplicated as major constituents.

Despite widespread traditional usage of Eryngium species in Anatolia (Turkey), only a limited number of scientific studies exists on E. kotschyi, an endemic species. Previously, extracts from E. campestre and E. kotschyi were reported to have significant anti-inflammatory effects in vivo. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, urease inhibitory activities of ethanol extracts of E. kotschyi and E. campestre var. virens roots as well as distilled water and ethanol extracts of E. kotschyi aerial parts. The NO and cytokine inhibitory effects were evaluated by Griess and ELISA assays. The antioxidant activities were tested on DPPH center dot, ABTS center dot+ and CUPRAC assays. The EtOH extract of E. kotschyi roots (EKr EtOH) and aerial parts (EKae EtOH) inhibited 50.08% and 41.52% of NO production at 100 mu g/ml, respectively. The EtOH extract of the roots of E. campestre var. virens (ECr EtOH) and EKr EtOH provided 36.22% and 65.23% IL-6 inhibition and 44.24% and 56.84% IL-1a inhibition at 100 mu g/ml. EKae EtOH exerted highest antioxidant activity on ABTS center dot+ (2.4 +/- 0.0005 mu M trolox/mg extract) and CUPRAC (0.97 +/- 0.07 mM trolox/mg extract). This extract was also found the richest among all in terms of phenolics content (6.1 +/- 0.001 mg/GAE/g extract). EKr EtOH and ECr EtOH exhibited strongest DPPH center dot (IC50 = 1.132 +/- 0.057 mg/ml) radical scavenging and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (0.36 +/- 0.005 mM Fe2+/mg extract) activity respectively. The extracts exerted low urease inhibitory activity. Consequently, the results of this study might contribute to the elucidation of the mechanism of in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the histopathologic effect of Nigella Sativa oil (NSO) on cisplatin (Cis) induced oral mucositis (OM) in rats. METHODS: Twenty-four rats were divided into four equal groups. The animals in Group 1 and Group 2 were given 5 mg/kg intraperitoneal (ip) Cis systemically on the 1(st), 3(rd) and 5(th) days of the study. Additionally, 15 mL NSO were given to the rats in Group 2, with gavage feeding on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. The animals in Group 3 were given per oral 15 ml NSO on days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. As the control group, Group 4 received a total of 15 mL 0.9% saline solution divided into 5 doses on days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 by oral gavage. On the 14(th) day, animals were euthanized and buccal mucosa from both sides, including submucosal tissues, were excised and taken to histopathological examination. RESULTS: The mean mucosal thicknesses of the groups were 224.58 μm, 276.1 μm, 323.33 μm, and 331.33 μm, respectively for Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 (p0.05). CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, NSO, for which anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties have been shown in previous studies, may also be effective in preventing Cis-induced OM.

Oxidative stress is one of the significant precursors of various metabolic diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, etc. Various scientific reports have indicated that secondary plant metabolites play an important role in preventing oxidative stress and its harmful effects. In this respect, this study was planned to investigate the phenolic profile and antioxidant and antidiabetic potentials of the aqueous extracts from Turkish Cistus species by employing in vitro methods. In vitro digestion simulation procedure was applied to all extracts to estimate the bioavailability of their phenolic contents. Total phenolic, flavonoid, phenolic acid and proanthocyanidin contents were determined for all phases of digestion. In addition, changes in the quantity of the assigned marker flavonoids (tiliroside, hyperoside and quercitrin) were monitored by High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) analysis. The antioxidant activity potentials of the extracts were studied by various methods to reveal their detailed activity profiles. On the other hand, in vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes and advanced-glycation end product (AGE) inhibitory activities of the extracts were determined to evaluate the antidiabetic potentials of extracts. The results showed that aqueous extracts obtained from the aerial parts of Turkish Cistus species have rich phenolic contents and potential antioxidant and antidiabetic activities, however, their bioactivity profiles and marker flavonoid concentrations might significantly be affected by human digestion. The results exhibited that total phenolic contents, antioxidant activities and diabetes-related enzyme inhibitions of the bioavailable samples were lower than non-digested samples in all extracts.

Although there is a wide array of antioxidant studies and related phenolic antioxidants on plants, bioavailability phenomenon is often neglected. Design of this study based on evaluation of difference in antioxidant potential and phenolic profile of V. opulus fruits before and after in vitro gastrointestinal human digestion. For this purpose two extracts (methanolic and aqueous) were prepared from its fruits. After the digestion simulation procedure, total phenolic, phenolic acid, flavonoid contents were determined for all phases of digestion. High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) was used for measurement of chlorogenic acid, major bioactive component of the extracts. Bioavailability index was calculated for all phenolic content assays and for the bioactive compound for accurate determination of alterations in phenolic profile via in vitro human digestion. For revelation of the precise antioxidant potential of fruit extracts, a couple of free radical scavenging (DPPH and DMPD) and metal reducing potential (CUPRAC and FRAP) assays and in addition a total antioxidant capacity assay were conducted on all phases. The results showed that the methanolic extract is superior to aqueous counterpart in terms of phenolic profile and antioxidant properties. Also, the major metabolite was negatively influenced by in vitro simulation of human digestion. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.

Sideritis trojana Bornm. is an endemic plant in Turkey, which is widely consumed as refreshing herbal tea, and used in traditional medicine. This study was designed to elucidate the effect of extraction methods including infusion, decoction, ultrasonic assisted and chemical extraction on phenolic profile, enzyme inhibition and antioxidant capacity. Alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase enzymes were tooled for assessing the antidiabetic activity, while HPLC-DAD method was used for the analysis of phenolic compounds. Besides, different methods were applied to the samples to understand their antioxidant activity. Results indicated that there is no considerable difference between infusion and decoction forms of S. trojana in terms parameters mentioned above. The chemical extraction method provided the highest phenolic content and antioxidant activity. In conclusion, S. trojana can be assumed as a good source of phenolic compounds with considerable antioxidant activity and enzyme inhibition capacity. © 2018 South African Association of Botanists

Objective: Algan hemostatic agent (AHA) is a plant-basedhemostatic agent produced in Turkey. Although, there is a greatimprovement in the hemostatic technologies, more effectivehemostatic products are required to be produced. The aim ofthis study was to demonstrate the efficacy of AHA in a partialsplenectomy model in rats. In addition, in this model, postoperativeabdominal adhesion was evaluated.Materials and Methods: In this study 5-7 weeks old 64rats were used. Rats were randomly divided into 8 groups, eachconsisting of eight rats (4 groups heparinized and 4 groups nonheparinized).Experimental splenectomy was performed and thegauze impregnated with saline was applied to the control group forthe hemorrhage control, the gauze impregnated with liquid AHA,gel and powder form of AHA, was applied to the experimentalgroups.Results: The time to reach complete homeostasis wassignificantly shorter in all AHA groups compared to the controlgroup. The powder and the gel forms of AHA stopped the bleedingin heparinized and non-heparinized groups in 1 second. The AHAfluid (sponge) form stopped the bleeding in the first applicationin the control group less than 10 seconds and the second timeapplication was not necessary. The bleeding was able to becontrolled in the heparinized control group (saline impregnatedsponge) by 55 seconds and in the non-heparinized control groupby 38 seconds.Conclusion: This study showed that AHA is a highly effectivehemostatic agent, which would be beneficial in controllinghemorrhage.

The hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, water, and n-butanol extracts of Arcethobium oxycedri (DC.) M. Bieb. (Santalaceae) were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against acetyl-(AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), related to Alzheimer's disease at 200 mu g/mL using microplate assays. Since oxidative stress contributes much to neurodegeneration, antioxidative effect of the extracts was determined in metal-chelating and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) test systems as well as antiradical effect against 2,2-diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extracts were calculated spectrophotometrically. Our findings indicated that the EtOAc extract, the richest one in total phenol and flavonoid amount (455.22 +/- 4.35 and 194.45 mg/g extract, respectively) displayed the highest cholinesterase inhibition (45.37 +/- 1.23% for AChE and 94.74 +/- 2.43% for BChE at 200 mu g/mL). Fractionation of the EtOAc led to isolation of (+)-catechin as the major compound. Catechin exerted remarkable antioxidant effect, whereas it did not cause cholinesterase inhibition. Therefore, the EtOAc extract deserves further investigation for its high BChE inhibition. (c) 2018 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Propolis shows a great variation in its chemical content depending on the vegetation around the beehive. Determination of its botanical origin and the chemical characterization are the most important issues for the standardization and the quality evaluation for propolis samples that are intended to be used in the pharmaceutical industry. This study has focused on the identification of the botanical origin of 47 propolis samples collected from different locations in the Black Sea Region of Turkey. Firstly, palynolog-ical and chromatographic analyses were carried out. Then, the major distinguishing components were identified by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC), or by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry (MS) after isolation of the components. Based on the results, the samples were categorized into three main groups as black poplar-type, Euroasian aspen-type, and non-phenolic-type. Key markers of black poplar-type were assigned as phenolic acids and flavonoids, whereas lasiocarpin B and C (phenolic glycerides) were determined as markers for Euroasian aspen-type propolis. The total phenolics and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC) and antioxidant capacities of the sam-ples were comparatively assessed by free radical-scavenging activity (DPPH) and metal-reducing activity (CUPRAC and FRAP) methods. Additionally, HPTLC-direct bioautography was applied to determine the contribution of components to antioxidant activity. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed similarities in TFC, TPC values, and antioxidant activity related to the sample origins' geographic proximity. The anti-inflammatory activities of the black poplar sub-type and Euroasian aspen-type propolis samples were comparatively investigated on RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. The black poplar-type propolis extract dom-inated by caffeic acid, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, apigenin, quercetin, kaempferol, pinocembrin, and galangin exhibited the highest anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Therefore, chemically char-acterized black poplar-type propolis may be suggested as a good candidate to develop pharmaceutical products. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Okra fruit (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) has been extensively used for the treatment of skin damage and subcutaneous tissue abscess for many years in Turkish folk medicine. Aim of study In this study, we aimed to investigate the wound healing potential of okra fruit by in vitro and in vivo experimental models in detail. Furthermore, based on the results of experiments, a wound healing formulation was developed and its activity profile was studied. Materials and methods For this purpose, the phenolic, flavonoid and proanthocyanidin contents and chemical profile of aqueous and ethanolic extracts prepared from okra fruits cultivated in two different locations of Turkey, i.e. Aegean and Kilis regions, were comparatively determined and the tryptophan levels, which is known to be an influential factor in wound healing, were measured. Antioxidant activity of the okra fruit extracts was determined by DPPH test, ABTS radical scavenger activity, iron-binding capacity, total antioxidant capacity and copper reduction capacity assays. Moreover, antibacterial activity potentials of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of okra fruits were determined. The protective effect of the extracts against H2O2-induced oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory activity were assessed in HDF (human dermal fibroblast) cells and in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages, respectively. The biocompatibility of the gel formulations prepared with the best performing extract were evaluated by human Epiderm™ reconstituted skin irritation test model. Wound-healing activity was investigated in rats by in vivo excision model and, histopathological examination of tissues and gene expression levels of inflammation markers were also determined. Results According to our findings, the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of okra fruits were found to possess a rich in phenolic content. Besides, isoquercitrin was found to be a marker component in ethanolic extracts of okra fruits. Both extracts exhibited antioxidant activity with significant protective effect against H2O2-induced damage in HDF cells by diminishing the MDA level. Also, the highest dose of ethanolic extracts has displayed a potent anti-inflammatory activity on LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Besides, both water and ethanolic extracts were shown to possess antimicrobial activity. On the other hand, the formulations prepared from the extracts were found non-irritant on in vitro Epiderm™ -SIT. In vivo excision assay showed that tissue TGF-β and IL-1β levels were significantly decreased by the 5% okra ethanolic gel formulation. The histopathological analysis also demonstrated that collagenisation and granulation tissue maturation were found higher in 5% (w/v) okra ethanolic extract-treated group. Conclusion 5% of okra ethanolic extract might be suggested as a potent wound healing agent based on the antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory tests. The proposed activity was also confirmed by the histopathological findings and gene expression analysis.

The antioxidant and mutagenic/antimutagenic activities of the fixed oils from Nigella sativa (NSO) and Nigella damascena (NDO) seeds, obtained by cold press-extraction from the cultivar samples, were comparatively investigated for the first time. The antimutagenicity test was carried out using classical and modified Ames tests. The fatty acid composition of the fixed oils was characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) while the quantification of thymoquinone in the fixed oils was determined by UPC2 . The main components of the NSO and NDO were found to be linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. The results of the Ames test confirmed the safety of NSO and NDO from the viewpoint of mutagenicity. The results of the three antioxidant test methods were correlated with each other, indicating NDO as having a superior antioxidant activity, when compared to the NSO. Both NSO and NDO exhibited a significant protective effect against the mutagenicity induced by aflatoxin B1 in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains. When microsomal metabolism was terminated after metabolic activation of the mycotoxin, a significant increase in antimutagenic activity was observed, suggesting that the degradation of aflatoxin B1 epoxides by these oils may be a possible antimutagenic mechanism. It is worthy to note that this is the first study to assess the mutagenicity of NSO and NDO according to the OECD 471 guideline and to investigate antimutagenicity of NDO in comparison to NSO against aflatoxin.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the potential protective effect of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) against cis-diamminedichloroplatinum or cisplatin (CDDP)-induced ototoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four Wistar albino rats were randomly and equally divided into four groups. Groups 1 and 2 were given a total of 15 mg/kg CDDP intraperitoneally, which was divided equally into three doses on days 1, 3, and 5. Group 2 was treated via gavage feeding with 15 ml NSO that was divided into five doses on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. Groups 3 and 4 received only 15 ml of NSO and 15 ml of 0.9% saline solution, respectively, which were orally administered and divided into five doses on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. Baseline high-frequency (8, 12, 16, and 32 kHz) auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurements were collected in all the groups before the medical administrations and were repeated on the 14th day before sacrifice. Afterward, a histopathological evaluation of the cochlea was performed. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the histopathological changes between group 1 and the other groups (p

Background:: Oriental planetree (Platanus orientalis) leaf was recorded as a remedy against inflammatory problems and to stop pain, i.e. toothache or knee pain in “The Canon of Medicines” by Avicenna and was also being documented in the Iranian Traditional Medicine. Although such a utilization has not been described in the reliable sources, recently use of its leaves as herbal tea has become popular among the laypeople. Previous studies have shown that only the nonpolar extract from the leaves may have such an efficacy, while possible benefits when it is used as herbal tea have not been investigated. Objective:: The present study aims to reveal the possible efficacy and safety profile of aqueous extract from P. orientalis leaf. Methods:: Aqueous extract of the leaves was submitted to in vivo and in vitro tests to determine its anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antimutagenic activities and also reveal its safety profile. Results:: The aqueous extract (400 mg/kg) procured weak and non-significant anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities. Meanwhile, the aqueous extract demonstrated antimutagenic activity in very high concentrations. On the other hand, results of safety evaluation showed that no concern had been observed from the viewpoint of public health. Conclusion:: Despite the popularity of the herbal tea prepared from the leaves of Oriental planetree among the people suffering joint problems to relieve pain, this study has proven that such application would not help them to alleviate their complaints when used as herbal tea.

In this study, qualitative and quantitative analysis of commercially available food supplements composed of olive leaf extract and herbal tea products containing olive leaf were evaluated by High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and a newly developed and validated High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic (HPLC) method for their quality assessment. In addition, leaves of two varieties of Olea europaea L. (var. europaea and var. sylvestris) grown in Turkey which were assigned as reference plant materials and their chemical compositions were also comparatively analyzed by HPTLC. Then HPTLC fingerprints of reference plant materials were compared to the marketed olive leaf samples. For quantification of oleuropein and luteolin 7-O-glucoside (L7G) contents in the samples, a simple and fast HPLC method was developed and validated. Consequently, in water and hydroalcoholic extracts of O. europaea var. europaea leaves, oleuropein contents were found to be 15.89% (w/w) and 15.84% (w/w), while L7G contents were 0.75% and 1.23%, respectively. For the reference materials, oleuropein in O. europaea L. var. sylvestris leaves was found to be 12.77% (w/w, in water extract) and 12.36%(w/w, in hydroalcoholic extract), while the concentration of L7G was 0.51% (w/w) and 0.83% (w/w) in water and hydroalcoholic extracts, respectively. Qualitative analysis of the commercial products revealed that fraud was detected in three of eight olive leaf herbal tea bag brands and two of ten olive leaf food supplements. These samples were found either devoid of oleuropein or they had different HPTLC fingerprint profiles than the reference samples. © 2020 Marmara University Press.

Despite the countless number of studies on phenolic compounds from herbal resources and their related bioactivities, their bioavailability factors are generally disregarded. The present study was performed in order to assess the potential bioavailability of major phenolics found in the aerial parts of Lavandula stoechas L. ssp. stoechas. To that end, a simulated human digestion method consisting of both gastric and intestinal phases was conducted. The total phenolic, phenolic acid and flavonoid contents were appraised together with high performance thin layer chromatography analysis of the two phenolic acids (rosmarinic acid and chlorogenic acid) and two flavone glycosides (apigenin 7-glucoside and luteolin-7-O-ß-glucoside). On the other hand, antioxidant potentials of the samples were investigated using assays with different mechanisms such as free radical scavenging tests and metal-related activity tests. According to the results, flavone glycosides had lower bioavailability than phenolic acids, and antioxidant activities were altered due to in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.

Propolis is a honeycomb product having very diverse chemical composition and possessing a broad spectrum of biological activities. This study comprehensively evaluated the phenolic profile of Turkish propolis by using a high performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method in combination with image analysis and pattern recognition technique. Also, botanical origin of each propolis sample was determined by comparison of HPTLC fingerprints of propolis samples with that of plant bud extracts and also by palynological analysis. Moreover, HPTLC coupled with 2,2-dipheny1-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) detection technique was used for screening of antioxidant activity of each separated compounds directly on the plate. Results of the present study have demonstrated that Turkish propolis could be classified under three main types; i.e. orange (O) (originated from Populus nigra L), blue (B) (originated from Populus tremula L) and nonphenolic types. Palynological analysis have shown that dominant pollen grains ( gt %45) in propolis samples were: Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Rosaceae, Castanea sativa Mill., Lotus corniculatus L., Salix spp. In addition, HPTLC-DPPH results showed that O-type of propolis exerted higher antioxidant activity than the other propolis types. Moreover, quercetin, caffeic acid, caffeic acid phenyl ester, pinobanksin and galangin had significant contribution to the antioxidant activity of propolis. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This is peer-reviewed version of the following article: Guzelmeric, E.; Ristivojević, P.; Trifković, J.; Dastan, T.; Yilmaz, O.; Cengiz, O.; Yesilada, E. Authentication of Turkish Propolis through HPTLC Fingerprints Combined with Multivariate Analysis and Palynological Data and Their Comparative Antioxidant Activity. LWT - Food Science and Technology 2018, 87, 23–32. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2017.08.060] Supplementary material: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2990]

Honey is a precious natural product that is marketed with a wide range of nutritional and medicinal properties. However, it is also a product subjected to frequent adulteration through mislabeling and mixing with cheaper and lower-quality honeys and various sugar syrups. In that sense, honey authentication regarding its genuine botanical and geographical origins, as well as the detection of any adulteration, is essential in order to protect consumer health and to avoid competition that could create a destabilized market. Various analytical techniques have been developed to detect adulterations in honey, including measuring the ratios of stable isotopes (mostly 13C/12C) and the use of different spectroscopic, chromatographic, and electrochemical methods. This review aims to provide a cross-section of contemporary analytical methods used for the determination of honey authenticity in order to help the scientific community engaged in the field of honey chemistry make appropriate choices and select the best applications that should lead to improvements in the detection and elimination of fraudulent practices in honey manufacturing.

Background: Ebenus boissieri Barbey is an Antalya, Turkey-endemic plant belonging to Fabaceae family. The aerial parts and the roots of E. boissieri Barbey were used in this study. Objective: In the present study, we have examined the apoptotic effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of E. boissieri Barbey in human cervical cancer cell line HeLa. Materials and Methods: To determine the cytotoxic effect, cells were treated with various concentrations of extracts for 24, 48, and 72 h incubation periods. Cytotoxic effects were examined by Cell Titer 96 aqueous nonradioactive cell proliferation assay and the results were corrected by live/dead viability/cytotoxicity assay and trypan blue exclusion assay. Apoptotic effects were studied with multicaspase kit. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) release were also measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: According to the results, E. boissieri Barbey extract caused significant increase in caspase levels. Thus, we suggest that the extract induces cells to undergo apoptosis. Especially, there was a sharp induction in caspase-3 activity. Levels of both TNF-α and IFN-γ in extract-treated groups were significantly and dose dependently exalted as compared to their relative controls. Conclusion: The effects of the extract on caspase-3, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels mediate the plausible mechanism of apoptosis induction in HeLa. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report indicating any pharmacological properties of E. Boissieri on HeLa cells. SUMMARY HeLa cell viability was reduced in dose-dependent manner for 72 h with an IC50 of approximate 28.03 μg/mL for aerial and 41.02 μg/mL for rootHeLa cells, exposure to the aerial extract led to 1.9, 3.8, 1.2, 2.4, and 3.45 fold induction of all caspases activities (-2, -3, -6, -8, and -9, respectively)Both 30 μg/mL of aerial and 45 μg/mL of root extracts allowed the production of anticancer cytokines (TNFalpha; IFNgamma) in HeLa cell culture supernatants. Abbreviations used: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α); Interferon gamma (IFN-γ); 3-(4, 5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3- carboxymethoxy-phenyl)-2-(4-sulfonyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS); Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS); Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS); para-Nitroanilin pNA; Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA); Sodium Dodesyl sulphate –Polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE); Tris-Buffered Saline (TBS); Hydocloric acid (HCl); Standart Error of Mean (SEM); National Cancer Institute (NCI); half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50)

WOS: 000390621600079 Daphne oleoides Schreb. subsp. oleoides is an evergreen shrub which is known for its folkloric usage against various ailments such as arthritic and infectious diseases. The aim of the present study was to comparatively investigate the in vitro anti-inflammatory (nitric oxide inhibitory effects), antioxidant (DPPH center dot,ABTS(center dot+) and FRAP tests) and antimicrobial activities of the extract/subextracts from the aerial parts of D. oleoides Schreb. subsp. oleoides (Thymelaeaceae). The powdered aerial parts were first extracted with methanol and then partitioned into five subextracts (n-hexane, dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), ethyl acetate (EtOAC), n-butanol and remaining water) by succesive solvent extractions. The chemical compositions of the extracts were compared with regard to their total phenolic, total flavonoid contents and fatty acid compositions. The CH2Cl2 and n-hexane extracts exerted the highest inhibitory effect on NO production (61.67 +/- 13.97% inhibition at 50 mu g/ml and 67.91 +/- 11.17% inhibition at 100 mu g/ml, respectively) of LPS-induced Raw 264.7 cells. The EtOAC subextract showed the highest antioxidant effect evaluated by DPPH center dot (IC50: 0.35 +/- 0.12 mg/ml) and FRAP (4.54 +/- 10.01 mM FeSO4/mg extract) tests. The CH2Cl2 subextract was shown to contain the highest levels of flavonoids (0.837 +/- 10.035 mg QUE/mg extract) and was also found to be rich in phenolics (1.063 +/- 10.011 mg GAE/mg extract). Fatty acid analysis of the n-hexane extract revealed hexadecahoic acid and 9,15-octodecadienoic acids to be the major components. The n-hexane and CH2Cl2 subextracts exerted the'highest antimicrobial potential.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Topical formulations such as oily extracts or ointments prepared with the flowering aerial parts of St. John's wort ( Hypericum perforatum L., Hypericaceae) have been used in the management of a wide range dermatological problems including superficial wounds and burns, bruises, contusions and many others in the worldwide traditional medicines. Aim of the study This is the first case study reporting the beneficial effects of an oily extract of St. John's wort in the treatment of pressure sores in a intensive care unit (ICU) patient. Material and methods The oily extract of St. John's wort was applied to a volunteer patient at ICU daily for forty successive days for wound care and treatment. Healing status was monitored macroscopically by measuring the wound size and stages at certain intervals as well as histopathological evaluation of the tissue sections taken at the initial and final dates of treatment. Results Evaluation of the results obtained from the macroscopical and histopathological experimentation have shown that oily extract of St. John's wort provided significant efficacy for the treatment of pressure sore wounds. Conclusion St. John's wort oily extract may be suggested as a cost-effective option for the prevention or treatment of pressure sores in ICU patients.

This study was undertaken to analyze the phenolic profiles of 19 propolis samples from Turkey by using a high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method in order to identify their plant origins. Furthermore, their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity profiles were comparatively evaluated. For the appraisal of antioxidant potential, total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC) of propolis samples were firstly determined and then their effects on free radicals were evaluated by FRAP, ABTS.+, CUPRAC, DPPH. and HPTLC-DPPH. methods. Antimicrobial activity of propolis samples against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442), Escherichia coli (ATCC 11229) and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 were determined by disc diffusion and broth dilution methods. HPTLC fingerprinting analyses revealed that O-type (botanical origin from Populus nigra L.) was the primarily available propolis type in Turkey. Moreover, 3-O-methylquercetin (3MQ) rich propolis was identified as a new propolis type for the first time. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that 3MQ-type propolis differs from the O-type. Antioxidant activity studies showed that O-type of propolis possesses higher antioxidant effect than the other tested propolis types. Quercetin, caffeic acid, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and galangin were determined to contribute significantly to the antioxidant potential of O-type propolis among others. Propolis extracts exerted moderate antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganisms with MIC values between the ranges of 128–512 µg/mL. © 2019 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland

Background and Design: The objective of this study was to investigate the wound healing activity of different concentrations of liposomal trans-resveratrol formulations on incisional and excisional wounds in rats. Materials and Methods: The wound healing effect was tested by an excisional and incisional wound model. Wound closure was measured for 12 days. On the 12th day of the study, maximal load, maximum stress, stress, and % of elongation values were evaluated in the incisional wound. In addition, angiogenesis, granulation tissue thickness, epidermal and dermal regeneration values, and macroscopic photographic analyses were evaluated in the excisional wound. Results: When the wound tissue surface healing rates were evaluated, similar effects were observed at the end of the 10th and 12th days between the 5% Res group and the commercial product containing 1% Centella asiatica extract used as the reference molecule. Histological evaluation showed that 1% Res and 5% Res groups induced significant wound healing activity compared to the control group. Furthermore, 1% Res and 5% Res groups increased wound healing rates by promoting granulation tissue, epidermal, and dermal regeneration as well as angiogenesis. Conclusion: Liposomal formulations containing 1% and 5% resveratrol were found to have positive effects on the healing process, both on excisional and incisional wound tissues. Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, sıçanlarda insizyonel ve eksizyonel yaralar üzerine farklı konsantrasyonlarda hazırlanmış lipozomal trans-resveratrol formülasyonlarının yara iyileşme aktivitesi üzerine etkinliğini araştırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Yara iyileşme etkisi, eksizyonel ve insizyonel yara modeli kullanılarak test edildi. Yara yüzey alanları 12 gün süresince ölçüldü. Çalışmanın 12. gününde, insizyonel yaralarda maksimum yük, maksimum stres, gerginlik (strain) ve % uzama değerleri değerlendirildi. Ek olarak, eksizyonel yaralarda anjiyogenez, granülasyon dokusu kalınlığı, epidermal ve dermal rejenerasyon değerleri ve makroskopik fotoğraf analizleri değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Yara dokusu yüzey iyileşme oranları değerlendirildiğinde, %5 Res grubu ile referans molekül olarak kullanılan 1% Centella asiatica ekstresi arasında 10. ve 12. günlerde benzer etkiler gözlendi. Histolojik değerlendirme, %1 Res ve %5 Res gruplarının kontrol grubuna kıyasla anlamlı yara iyileşme aktivitesi oluşturduğunu gösterdi. Ayrıca, %1 Res ve %5 Res grupları, granülasyon dokusu, epidermal ve dermal rejenerasyonun yanı sıra anjiyogenezi uyararak yara iyileşme oranlarını arttırdı. Sonuç: %1 ve %5 resveratrol içeren lipozomal formülasyonların, hem eksizyonel hem de insizyonel yara dokularında iyileşme süreci üzerinde olumlu etkileri olduğu bulunmuştur.

Demirci, Fatih/0000-0003-1497-3017; YESILADA, ERDEM/0000-0002-1348-6033; GENCLER OZKAN, AYSE MINE/0000-0002-2220-0033; Miser Salihoglu, Ece/0000-0003-0681-3566, WOS: 000499975800007, The present study was conducted to collect, record, and document local knowledge of medicinal practices in Duzce, a northwestern Anatolian province. To the best of our knowledge, no comprehensive ethnobotanical study has been reported from this province. Information was acquired through semistructured interviews and personal conversations using a questionnaire and numerous guided field trips with local knowledgeable people. For quantitative analyses and comparisons, recorded data such as informant consensus factor (F-IC) and use value (UV) were calculated, respectively. As a result of extensive field studies, 122 taxa were determined as folk medicines; 76 of were wild and 46 were cultivated. the identified medicinal plants were mainly from the family Rosaceae, followed by Compositae, Apiaceae, Lamiaceae, and Solanaceae, respectively. Among the preparations used, liquid forms such as infusions (30.2%) or decoctions (16.4%) represented the most favored ways to administer medicinal plants. Dermatological disorders had the highest F-IC score with a value of 0.75 followed by skeletomuscular (F-IC = 0.7466), gastrointestinal (F-IC = 0.6666), immunological (F-IC = 0.6615), and respiratory (F-IC = 0.6292) system disorders, among others. the most prominent medicinal plants were Urtica dioica (UV = 0.4352), Plantago major (UV = 0.3056), Rubus ulmifolius (UV = 0.2279), and Sambucus ebulus (UV = 0.2279). According to the present study, the number of people who recognize and use the wild plants of Duzce, and those of the rest of Anatolia, is steadily decreasing. the ethnobotanical knowledge cannot be passed to the next generation in its entirety if it is not properly recorded. in addition to this gradual loss of knowledge, modern information pollution and contamination via the popular media highlight the urgent need to record this precious knowledge before it is lost., Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [TBAG-108T253], This study was financially supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK Grant Number: TBAG-108T253). This study is dedicated to the late pharmacist Nahit Altan in recognition of his interests and contributions.

Botanical origin of a bee pollen sample is frequently determined by palynological analysis which also enables classification of the bee pollen samples as monofloral and polyfloral. Nevertheless, palynological analysis does not give an insight on its chemical composition and thus its potential therapeutic activities. In this study, the relationship between the botanical origins, chemical compositions and biological activities of bee pollen samples were comparatively investigated. Firstly, bee pollen samples (PO1-11) were examined by palynological method and 5 of them were grouped as monofloral, and the rest was grouped as polyfloral bee pollen. Then, HPTLC analysis was performed for fingerprinting of the phenolic compounds and caffeic acid, isoquercitrin, galangin and chrysin were found the common phenolic components in the bee pollen samples, and these were assigned as “key markers”. Then, a newly developed and validated HPLC method was applied to quantify these key markers in the samples. Furthermore, their total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were comparatively studied. Bioactivity of bee pollen samples were assessed by in-vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activity tests. A polyfloral bee pollen sample (PO2) was found to exert the highest antioxidant activity. Besides, PO2 and PO9 (polyfloral) showed the highest antimicrobial activity.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Styrax liquidus is a resinous exudate (balsam) obtained from the wounded trunk of the Liquidambar orientalis Mill. (Hamamelidaceae). Styrax has been used for treatment of various ailments in Turkish folk medicine such as skin problems, peptic ulcers, nocturnal enuresis, parasitic infections, antiseptic or as expectorant. Aim of study In spite of frequent use of styrax in Turkish folk medicine as well as once as a stabilizer in perfumery industry, negative reports have been noticed by the international authority for restriction its use based on some limited evidences from an in vitro study. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of styrax and its ethanolic extract using in vivo and in vitro assays, as well as an antimutagenic assay and also to determine its phenolic constituents with chromatographic analysis. Materials and methods In vitro mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of styrax and its ethanolic extract were evaluated by Ames test performed on Salmonella TA98 and TA100 strains with and without metabolic activation (10– 30,000 µg/plate). The genotoxicity was also studied in vivo by chromosomal aberrations assay on bone marrow of Balb C mice with different its concentrations (500–2000 mg/kg body weight). Cytotoxicity has been evaluated by the MTT assay using L929 cell line. Its phenolic constituents were determined by HPLC analysis. Results Genotoxicological investigations of styrax or its ethanolic extract showed that none of the tested concentrations induced a significant increase in the revertant number of TA98 and TA100 strains with or without metabolic activation, indicating no mutagenicity to the tested strains. Also results indicated that up to 2000 mg/kg body weight, styrax is not genotoxic in mammalian bone marrow chromosome aberration test in vivo. In cytotoxicity study, the IC50 values of styrax and its ethanolic extract were found to be 50.22±1.80 and 59.69±11.77 µg/mL, respectively. Among the studied reference standards the major phenolic acids in styrax balsam was found to be p-coumaric acid (2.95 mg/g), while in its ethanolic extract not only p-coumaric acid (11.46 mg/g), but also gallic acid (1.60 mg/g) were found to the main components. Conclusion The findings of the present study provide scientific basis to the safety of styrax from the viewpoint of genotoxicity risk, and in fact, it was found to be beneficial against genotoxicity.

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. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Determination of the botanical origin and bioactivity of honey is crucial parameters that may effect health benefits and market value of honey. Melissopalynology is frequently practiced for identifiying its botanical origin, however, this study may sometimes not allow a clear authentication of its origin. Therefore, complementary methods as chromatographic techniques are recommended to accomplish the purpose. In this study, thirty-three Turkish honeys were first authenticated by melissopalynology and classified as honeydew and blossom honeys. Then, phenolic characterization and quantification in honeys were performed by high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) and a validated liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods, respectively and applicability of these methods in place of melissopalinology was evaluated. Pine, chestnut, and sunflower honeys showed individually characteristic HPTLC fingerprint. Key markers were quantified by HPLC and caffeic acid, one of the marker components, was found to be highest in sunflower honey as 2.63±0.04 mg/g. Honeys were further subjected to principal component (PCA) and hierarchical clustering (HCA) analyses according to the key markers and pine, chestnut, and sunflower honeys were grouped independently. In terms of bioactivity, pine honey showed the highest antioxidant effect among investigated samples. Lastly, some phenolic compounds were found to contribute significantly to the antioxidant effect of honeys by HPTLC-DPPH.

Bioavailability is an important concept when evaluating natural products for their bioactivities. The present study measured the bioavailability of phenolics of Sambucus ebulus (dwarfelder) fruit extracts, along with its antioxidant activity after simulated digestion. Total phenolics, phenolic acid, proanthocyanidin and flavonoid content assays were used along with different antioxidant assays such as metal reducing and free radical scavenging activities. High performance thin layer chromatography was used to measure bioactive metabolite of the plant sample, chlorogenic acid. Results indicated that aqueous and methanolic extracts of S. ebulus fruits were affected by simulated human digestion, alterations in antioxidant activity were consistent with the changes in the phenolics. Chlorogenic acid bioavailability rates were calculated as 45.8 and 51.9% for methanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively. Total antioxidant capacity was reduced to 37 ± 0.5 from 82 ± 4 (AAE)/g DE for methanolic extracts after the digestion process.

Ethnopharmacological relevance The liver and kidney are among the most important organs in the body, where metabolic and elimination functions take place. During this process, liver and kidneys may suffer damage due to ingestion or formation of toxic metabolites leading to organ loss and even death. Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) leaf has long been recognized as a popular herbal remedy in traditional medicines with beneficial effects on liver. Aim of the study In phytotherapy leaves are the part used to support the liver functions and for treatment of damage induced by various toxins, while fleshy receptacle is cooked as meal to support liver homeostasis. However, effects of other plant parts on liver such as stems, bracts have not much attracted the attention of scientific community so far. In this study we investigated comparatively the hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects of different plant parts of artichoke, i.e. receptacles, outer bracts, inner bracts, and stems with that of leaves upon paracetamol-induction in rats. Materials and methods Aqueous ethanol (80%) extracts obtained from the different parts of artichoke were administered for five consecutive days after paracetamol induction to rats. At the end of experimental period blood samples from the experimental animals were taken for biochemical tests, while livers and kidneys were removed for further histopathological evaluation. Results The histopathological examinations of liver and kidney tissues revealed that the receptacle and stem extracts of the artichoke were the most effective parts by improving the experimentally induced pathology in both liver and kidney. Biochemical tests also supported the histopathological data; receptacle, stem and bract extracts reduced serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels, but not alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. Conclusions Histopathological and biochemical studies have shown that receptacle and stem extracts of artichoke were found to exert higher protective activity on liver and kidney damage induced by paracetamol comparing to its bract and leaf extracts, the latest is officially recognized as herbal remedy.

Objectives A new HPLC method was developed and validated for the determination of some phenolic compounds; gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, epigallocatechin, caffeic acid, vanillin, p-coumaric acid, rutin, and quercetin in some local wine and fruit wine samples. Materials and methods Analyses were performed on a Zorbax Eclipse C18 column (4.6 x 150 mm, 3.5-µm particle size) using a gradient system. Mobile phase A was a 10-mM phosphoric acid solution and mobile phase B was methanol using a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Phenolic components were monitored using a DAD at three different wavelengths. Results The developed and validated method was generally linear between the 1-100 ppm concentration range. Recovery values were obtained in the range of 95-105% and repetitive. The method was successfully applied to investigate the phenolic profiles of different wine samples. Conclusion As a result of the study, an accurate, sensitive and reliable HPLC-DAD method was developed. The method was successfully used to determine the concentrations of antioxidant phenolic constituents from some local wine extracts.

Boza is a popular cereal-based traditional beverage particularly consumed during winter months in Balkan countries and Turkic societies. The present study aims to investigate the influence of different cereal sources and starter cultures used in the commercial production of boza on its chemical and microbiota compositions and physicochemical characteristics. Detailed experimentation has revealed that chemical compositions, i.e. carbohydrates (beta-glucans, starches), organic acids, vitamins, dietary fibers, proteins, fat, and minerals, along with physicochemical characteristics, are subject to significant differentiation depending upon the cereal types and microbial consortia of the starter culture used in boza production. These variations also influence the physicochemical characteristics and the nutritive value of the final product. In the course of the study, various lactic acid bacteria [Lactococcus lactis, leuconostocs (Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides, Lc. lactis, Lc. citreum), Lactobacillus spp. (L. plantarum, L. paracasei, L. brevis, L. delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii)] and yeasts (Pichia fermentans, Candida colliculosa, Geotrichum sp., and Galactomyces geotrichum) were identified as the members of the microbial community in three boza samples. Results of the present study open a new research line for better understanding of the contribution of the cereal source and microbiota composition of boza beverage to its nutritive value as well as biological effects on human health. © TÜBİTAK. 110O613 Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik AraÅ?tirma Kurumu This study was financially supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), Project Number 110O613.

Although marshmallow flowers are used more frequently than leaves and roots, only Althaeae folium and Althaeae radix monographs exist in European Pharmacopoeia. The aim of study was to set standards for marshmallow flowers which will be used for its quality assessment. Althaeae flos monograph was prepared based on the main principles described in European Pharmacopoeia for herbal drugs. After setting the limits, the specifications of 33 marshmallow samples purchased from herbal markets were studied to determine their suitability for the proposed monograph. Results have shown that all the commercial samples were obtained not from Althaea, but Alcea species, a close gender, based on the flowers size. Since main characteristics of both flowers were determined to be identical, this would not rise a problem. However, residual parts of insects or snails were found in 28 samples and thus they were evaluated unacceptable to be used in phytotherapy. © 2018, University of Istanbul. All rights reserved.

WOS: 000425561900004 Oleander (Nerium oleander L., fain: Apocynaceae) is an evergreen shrub. Although it is known to be poisonous to humans, a large number of utilizations in folk medicine have been reported against diabetes, rheumatic pain and skin diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the cholinesterase inhibitory activities of oleander flower extracts and to isolate the active components responsible for the activity. The antidiabetic and skin care effects were also determined on some key enzymes (alpha-glucosidase, alpha-amylase, tyrosinase). The flower extracts obtained with aqueous, polar and apolar organic solvents were evaluated for their phenolic contents and antioxidant capacities. The enzyme inhibitory activities (cholinesterase, alpha-glucosidase, alpha-amylase and tyrosinase) were examined by microtiter plate assays. Antioxidant properties were evaluated by DPPH, FRAP and CUPRAC assays. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and aluminum chloride, respectively. The structures of the isolates were elucidated by NMR and MS experiments. In the present study, cholinesterase inhibitory activity of the EtOH extract of the olaender flowers was investigated and beta-sitosterol and oleanolic acid were isolated as the active components. The less polar extracts (n-hexane) exerted better cholinesterase and alpha-amylase inhibitory activities than those of the more polar extracts (R-H2O, EtOAc) which had better alpha-glucosidase and tyrosinase activities. The highest antioxidant capacity values were obtained from EtOAc and EtOH extracts. The EtOH extract was found to contain the highest levels of total phenolic and flavonoid contents. The results suggest that the flowers of oleander could be a potential source for high value phytochemicals for developing novel drug leads.

Comprehensive analysis of phenolic profiles of botanically different subtypes of Turkish propolis samples were performed using UHPLC-LTQ/Orbitrap/MS/MS method, and additionally total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC) as well as their antioxidative activities were evaluated by spectrophotometry. Antimicrobial activity of Turkish propolis against oral cavity bacteria from the genus Streptococcus (S. pyogenes, S. sanguinis, S. mutans) and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 was determined by diffusion and microdilution methods. Extensive fingerprint analysis of Turkish propolis revealed the presence of fifty one phenolic compounds, with fifteen quantified which confirm their affiliation to the two subtypes of the European propolis. All analysed samples have shown antimicrobial potential against all tested bacteria, with S. pyogenes being the most sensitive one. Turkish propolis, especially its orange subtype, can be considered as the high-quality product due to its rich phenolic and flavonoid content, strong antioxidative and antimicrobial activities. Turkish propolis could be, therefore, a good raw material for food and pharmaceutical industry. This is the peer-reviewed version of the following article: Ristivojević, P.; Dimkić, I.; Guzelmeric, E.; Trifković, J.; Knežević, M.; Berić, T.; Yesilada, E.; Milojković-Opsenica, D.; Stanković, S. Profiling of Turkish Propolis Subtypes: Comparative Evaluation of Their Phytochemical Compositions, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities. LWT 2018, 95, 367–379. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2018.04.063] Supplementary material: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2930]