Mehmet Firat

Premise: Tulips are one of the best‐known geophytes, but their taxonomy remains convoluted and their evolutionary history poorly understood. Here, we used plastid genomes to identify some issues with current classification, understand the diversification history of the genus, and identify potential species linked to historical cultivation. Methods: We gathered a large number of tulip specimens from living collections, herbaria, and online sources and through extensive fieldwork to infer maximum likelihood phylogenies of the plastid genomes of Tulipa (Liliaceae), representing ~86% of accepted species alongside a range of occasionally accepted synonyms. We used BEAST and secondary calibration points to date the tree, before assessing the biogeographical history of the genus using BioGeoBEARS. Results: Based on our results, we described a fifth subgenus, Eduardoregelia , and identified a range of species where our results do not align with current taxonomy. Our data suggests the genus diverged from a clade containing Amana and Erythronium around 32.5 million years ago (Mya), with the most recent common ancestor existing around 22.8 Mya in the broader Central Asia region, a period that saw rapid uplift of mountain ranges and associated aridification in the region. The genus primarily diversified in Central Asia with rapid radiations within the last 10 My, possibly as a response to further orogenesis. Several migrations outside of the ancestral region have occurred, primarily via the steppes of Kazakhstan and Russia and along the Caucasus and Iranian and Anatolian Mountains to the eastern Mediterranean region. We also provide evidence that the maternal lineage of the garden tulip involved several species including T. scardica and T. suaveolens . Conclusions: Many tulip species present limited diagnostic characters, making their taxonomy difficult, compounded by their long use in horticulture and widespread hybridization, especially in gardens. We provide an up‐to‐date phylogenetic framework for this genus that may help resolve many taxonomic issues in the future, while highlighting further work to be done. We reinforce the importance of Central Asia in the evolutionary history of this genus and provide an important foundation for further study of Tulipa and more effective conservation of wild tulip species.

In this study, the phytochemical profile and biological activities of ethanol extracts of Salvia ceratophylla were comprehensively investigated. LC-MS/MS analyses identified numerous phenolic compounds, with rosmarinic acid determined as the dominant constituent across all extracts, reaching its highest level in the SCL extract (25140.57 µg/g). While hesperidin was consistently present in all extracts (336.37-361.91 µg/g), apigenin was found at notably high levels, particularly in the SCF extract (4720.14 µg/g). Additionally, malic acid (3430.91 µg/g, SCF) and caffeic acid (205.90 µg/g, SCL) were quantified at significant levels. GC-MS analyses revealed high concentrations of sterols and triterpenoids, including β-sitosterol (SCR: 5611.73 µg/g; SCM: 9733.81 µg/g), 7α-hydroxy-β-sitosterol (SCM: 8826.46 µg/g), oleanolic acid (38842.62 µg/g, SCM), and ursolic acid (74385.03 µg/g, SCM). These compounds are well-documented in the literature for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. When antioxidant activities were examined, the SCL extract exhibited the strongest effect in the DPPH (IC50: 45.14 µg/mL), ABTS (IC50: 5.68 µg/mL), and CUPRAC (A0.5: 3.33 µg/mL) assays. It was found that all extracts generally showed no toxicity in the healthy cell line (PDF); in fact, some extracts were found to have a cell-proliferation-promoting effect. It was found that they did not exhibit any cytotoxic activity in the Caco-2 cell line. In contrast, the SCM fraction exhibited moderate cytotoxicity in the SkOV3 cell line, with a viability rate of 68.12%. Enzyme inhibition activities were generally weak; however, the SCR extract displayed significant inhibition against BChE (52.01±1.33%), while the SCM extract exhibited limited activity against urease (5.25±0.22%) and collagenase (8.01±0.15%). In conclusion, S. ceratophylla extracts possess strong antioxidant capacity due to their high phenolic and flavonoid contents, alongside a rich sterol and triterpenoid composition, highlighting their potential as a source of bioactive compounds warranting further investigation. These findings support the utilization of the species as a source of natural antioxidants and bioactive compounds in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.

Phlomis pungens Willd. (syn. Phlomis herba-venti subsp. pungens (Willd.) Maire ex DeFilipps) is a medicinal and aromatic species that has been studied mainly for its essential oil composition, whereas its non-volatile phytochemical constituents have remained largely unexplored. In this study, the ethanolic extract of P. pungens was systematically characterized for the first time using a targeted LC–MS/MS method. In parallel, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant potential, and multi-enzyme inhibitory activities were evaluated. LC–MS/MS profiling revealed a phenolic acid–rich composition, with quinic acid (14.146 mg/g extract) and chlorogenic acid (13.187 mg/g) identified as the predominant compounds.These were followed by cynaroside (1.541 mg/g), vanillic acid (1.453 mg/g), and cosmosiin (0.830 mg/g). The extract demonstrated considerable levels of total phenolics and flavonoids (37.18 ± 1.97 μg PEs/mg and 18.19 ± 0.90 μg QEs/mg extract, respectively). Antioxidant evaluation indicated moderate activity, particularly in the ABTS (IC50 = 32.05 ± 0.28 μg/mL) and CUPRAC (A0.5 = 20.83 ± 0.37 μg/mL) assays. Enzyme inhibition studies revealed selective inhibitory effects against collagenase (24.73 ± 0.32%), tyrosinase (15.04 ± 0.11%), and butyrylcholinesterase (13.62 ± 0.12%) at 50 μg/mL, while no inhibition was detected toward acetylcholinesterase, urease, or elastase.These findings suggest that the biological activities of P. pungens may be associated with its non-volatile phenolic constituents.This work provides novel phytochemical data and highlights the potential of the species for future pharmaceutical and dermocosmetic applications.

Medicinal plants have been used to treat many diseases since ancient times, and treatment with herbs is becoming more and more preferred in society due to their synergistic effects and the serious side effects of synthetic drugs. In this study, the phenolic contents of 5 endemic species (Salvia cerino-pruinosa var. elazigensis, S. cerino-pruinosa var. cerino-pruinosa, S. rosifolia, S. pseudeuphratica and S. kurdica) belonging to the genus Salvia, which are widely used among the public, were determined by LC-MS/MS and their antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-Alzheimer, urease, tyrosinase, elastase and collegenase activities were investigated. Petroleum ether extracts prepared from mixed parts of the species were found to be the poorest in terms of phenolic content, while ethanol extracts were the richest. Therefore, as the polarity of the solvent increased during the preparation of the sample extracts, it was observed that the extracts became richer in terms of phenolic component diversity. In general, all ethanol extracts were found to be rich in rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, fumaric acid and malic acid. Especially S. cerino-pruinosa var. elazigensis was found to be richer in terms of component diversity and amounts compared to other species. Especially the rosmarinic acid (34638.45 µg analyte/g extract) content of the leaf part of this species is remarkable. In general, antioxidant activities of all species were found to be high or moderate, while enzyme activities were low. This is the first detailed study in the literature on the chemical contents and biological activities of extracts of various parts of 5 endemic species prepared using different solvents (petroleum ether, chloroform and ethanol). The ethanol extract of the leaf of S. cerino-pruinosa var. elazigensis has high total phenolic, rosmarinic acid content and antioxidant potential and the cytotoxic activity of S. rosifolia has potential for use in food supplement, food preservative and pharmaceutical industries.

Objective: Lamiaceae is a cosmopolitan family of aromatic and medicinal plants. There are many well-known aromatic, ornamental and weed plants in this family. Many aromatic species in the Lamiaceae family are currently used in traditional medicine, pharmaceutical and food industries due to their biological properties. In this study, it was aimed to examine the ethanol extracts (roots and aerial parts) of Thymbra spicata var. spicata (TS), Thymbra sintenisii Bornm. &Aznav. subsp. sintenisii Bornm. &Aznav (TSS) and Thymbra sintenisii Bornm. & Azn. subsp. isaurica P.H.Davis (TSI) in the terms of their biological activity and chemical content. Material and Method: The phenolic content of the species was analyzed by LC-MS/MS. In addition, cytotoxic, antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, urease, tyrosinase, elastase, collagenase, angiotensin I-converting and α-amylase enzymes activities were investigated. Result and Discussion: It was determined that all ethanol extracts were rich in hesperidin (3900.28-32910.02µg analyte/g extract) and rosmarinic acid (5343.08-11571.54µg analyte/g extract). In addition, the aerial part of TS species showed high a-amylase enzyme inhibition activity (inhibition%: 97.57±2.59 at 50 µg/ml). Due to their high antioxidant, anticholinesterase and α-amylase enzyme inhibition activities and rich phenolic content, tymbra species have potential for use in the pharmaceutical and food industry.

Plants have long been used to protect and maintain human health. Due to the increasing costs and side effects of synthetic drugs, interest in herbal products is increasing day by day. For this reason, research continues in laboratories around the world to discover new drug active ingredients of natural origin. In the present study, the COVID-19 Spike ACE2 binding inhibition capacity of Verbascum zerdust Fırat was studied using commercial kits. In addition, the plant content was determined by HPLC-DAD analysis and the interaction of the components in the plant content with the 7U0N protein was determined by molecular docking analysis. In addition, the ADME profiles of the molecules detected in the plant content were determined using the SwissADME web tool. According to the results obtained, Verbascum zerdust showed the highest inhibition value at 0.001µl concentration (15.38%). In molecular docking analysis, catechin carbohydrate showed the highest binding affinity to the 7U0N complex (∆G= -8.3 kcal/mol). Among the molecules detected in the plant extract, catechin hydrate, resveretrol, quercetin and t-cinamic acid fully complied with the Lipinski, Ghose, Veber, Egan and Muegge criteria. In conclusion, the results obtained indicate that Verbascum zerdust plant can be used in the treatment of COVID-19.

The antioxidant, antiradical, and anti-hemolytic activities of the methanol extract of Rhamnus cornifolius leaves were investigated, along with the determination of element and vitamin levels in the dried plant material. Element analyses were determined by ICP-OES dry ashing, vitamins by HPLC, vitamin C, total phenolic, flavonoid, antioxidant capacity, DPPH•, ABTS•+ and anti-haemolytic activity spectrophotometrically. Total phenolic, flavonoid and antioxidant capacities of the plant were measured as 4.482 ± 0.159 mg GA/g, 27.420 ± 2.551 mg QE/g and 41.795 ± 18.506 mM AA/g, while retinol, α-tocopherol, phylloquinone and ascorbic acid as 0.2167 ± 0.019, 4.313 ± 0.685, 0.5622 ± 0.09 µmol/kg and 403.631 ± 8.682 mg 100/g. IC50 values of DPPH•, ABTS•+ and anti-haemolytic assays were determined as 33.974 ± 1.918 (BHT = IC50 26.979 ± 1.116), 58.197 ± 1.826 (trolox = IC50 27.854 ± 1.352) and 68.51 ± 5.33 (trolox = IC50 44.040 ± 0.290) μg/mL, respectively. According to the results of this study, it was determined that the vitamin and element content of the plant was at high level, ABTS•+ and DPPH• tests showed a promising antioxidant power. These findings represent the first report in the literature, and the plant’s composition was evaluated as a basis for future in vivo studies.

This study was designed to investigate the antioxidant, antiradical potential and element and vitamin (A, E, K and C) levels in leaf extracts of Verbascum golawanense belonging to Scrophulariaceae family. For this purpose, DPPH, ABTS, anti-haemolytic activity, total flavonoid, phenolic content, total antioxidant capacity and vitamin C content were determined and measured spectrophotometrically. Vitamin A, E and K were analysed by HPLC and elemental analysis was performed by ICP-OES method. Phenolic, flavonoid and antioxidant capacity of the plant were determined as 5.861 ± 0.212 mg GA/g, 26.422 ± 0.613 mg QE/g and 124.359 ± 2.562 mM AA/g, respectively. K, Na, Fe, V, retinol, α-tocopherol, phylloquinone and vitamin C were determined as 3.086 ± 0.0131 mmol/kg, 2.260 ± 0.0266 mmol/kg, 1.1465 ± 0.0731 mmol/kg, 29.326 ± 3.072 µmol/kg, 0.1107 ± 0.013 µmol/kg, 0.4002 ± 0.16 µmol/kg, 1.101 ± 0.118 µmol/kg and 2552.0126 ± 187.056 mg/100g, respectively. The IC50 values related to the in vitro antioxidant properties of DPPH, ABTS and anti-haemolytic activity assays were 19.170 ± 0.615 μg/mL, 26.877 ± 0.461 μg/mL and 64.87 ± 2.24 μg/mL. In vitro studies revealed that the plant has a good antioxidant potential. It was determined that the vitamin and element content was high and total phenol, flavonoid and antioxidant potential were at reasonable levels. ABTS and DPPH tests showed a promising antioxidant power. These results indicated that the extract could be a potential alternative and could be investigated for the discovery and development of new chemical compounds for the treatment of various diseases.

Amaç: Sunulan çalışma, Gundelia cappadocica Fırat’ın etanol ekstresinin anti-COVID-19 kapasitesini araştırmak amacıyla planlandı. Yöntem: Bu amaçla, anti-COVID-19 etkisi ticari kitler kullanılarak çalışıldı. Bunun yanında, bitki içeriği HPLC-DAD ile tespit edildi. Belirlenen komponentlerin ADME özellikleri SwissADME web aracı ile çalışılırken, moleküler docking analizleri CB-DOCK2 web aracı kullanılarak yapıldı. Bulgular: COVID-19 inhibisyonu en yüksek 10 µl konsantrasyonda %9.61 olarak bulundu. Resveratrol, kuersetin ve krisin ilaç benzeri molekül kriterlerinin tamamına uyum gösterdi. Moleküler docking simülasyonlarında ise en yüksek bağlanma afinitesini naringin molekülü gösterdi (∆G=-9.5 kcal/mol). Sonuç: Bu sonuçlar, Gundelia cappadocica’nın COVID19’un önlenmesi ve tedavisinde kullanılabileceğini göstermektedir

The Ziziphora species, classified under the Lamiaceae family, have a strong aromatic property. Ziziphora species have been used in folk medicine as sedative, gastric, aphrodisiac, bloating, and degassing. In the current study, the phenolic and flavanoid content of ethanol extracts of Ziziphora capitata L. species of flower, leaf, branch, mixed, and root parts was determined by the LC-MS/MS device. In addition, the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the extracts, as well as their inhibitory effects on enzymes (antihypertensive, AchE (acetylcholinesterase), BchE (butyrylcholinesterase), elastase, tyrosinase, collagenase and urease), were determined. The LC-MS/MS results showed that quinic acid (25578, 5842, 25171, 14055, 10597 µg g-1, respectively) was found in higher amounts in flower, leaf, branch, mixed, and root extracts of Z. capitata species compared to other components. Additionally, rosmarinic acid (17097 µg g-1), cynaroside (8432), and hesperidin (8067) were found to be major components. It was observed that the flower extract of the species exhibited strong antioxidant activity (IC50: 37.18±1.36 µg mL-1, 9.89±0.45, A0.5:16.27±0.02, respectively) in DPPH, ABTS and CUPRAC methods. It was concluded that the leaf extract of Z. capitata species had a strong cytotoxic effect on HT-29 (colon cancer cell line) (viability %: 9.26±0.69). It was observed that the root part of the species exhibited higher activity in butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzyme inhibition activity (inhibition %: 40.56±0.88) than other parts. It was determined that Z. capitata extracts did not show acetylcholinesterase, urease, tyrosinase, elastase, collagenase, and antihypertensive enzyme activity or showed low activity. As a result, it is thought that the flower extract of the Z. capitata species has better results in terms of the examined parameters, whereas the leaf extract needs to be subjected to more detailed in vitro and in vivo research conducted to be used in the pharmaceutical industry as a result of its cytotoxic effect against colon cancer cell lines.