Medicinal plants used in Kirklareli Province (Turkey)

In this paper, 126 traditional medicinal plants from Kirklareli Province in Turkey have been reported. One hundred and twenty six plant species belonging to 54 families and among them 100 species were wild and 26 species were cultivated plants. Most used families were Rosaceae, Labiatae, Compositae and the most used plants were Cotinus coggyria, Sambucus ebulus, Achillea millefolium subsp. pannonica, Hypericum perforatum, Matricaria chamomilla var. recutita, Melissa officinalis subsp. officinalis, Juglans regia, Thymus longicaulis subsp. longicaulis var. subisophyllus, Malva sylvestris, Urtica, dioica, Plantago lanceolata, Rosa canina, Ecballium elaterium, Artemisia absinthium, Viscum album subsp. album, Papaver rhoeas, Helleborus orientalis, Cydonia oblonga, Prunus spinosa subsp. dasyphylla, Rubus discolor, Sorbus domestica. A total of 143 medicinal uses were obtained. The traditional medicinal plants have been mostly used for the treatment of wounds (25.3%), cold and influenza (24.6%), stomach (20%), cough (19%), kidney ailments (18.2%), diabetes (13.4%). (c) 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Centaurea nerimaniae sp. nov. (Asteraceae) from south Anatolia, Turkey

Centaurea nerimaniae S. Kultur sp. nov. (Asteraceae) is described and illustrated from south Anatolia, Turkey. It is morphologically similar to C. antiochia Boiss. var. praealta (Boiss. & Bal.) Wagenitz. The geographical distribution of the new species and related species is mapped. The chromosome number of C. nerimaniae (counted in root tips) is 2n = 20

Seed morphology of perennial taxa of Euphorbia section Pithyusa (Euphorbiaceae) in Turkey

A comprehensive study based on seed morphology of perennial Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) sect. Pithyusa species occurring in Turkey is presented. A total of 14 species were studied. Seed characteristics were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as dissecting light microscopy. Significant features are: seed size, seed shape, shape of caruncle and seed surface ornamentation. Three different seed surface types (smooth, pitted, and wrinkled) were observed. Four main seed shapes (ovoid, oblong, quadrangular, and globose), as well as seven types of seed coat ornamentation (reticulate-areolate, areolate, alveolate, falsifoveate, pusticulate, colliculate and smooth) were found. The number of testa cells per 100 mu m(2) and also its range, from 8-12 to 57-63, are given

An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Marmaris (Mugla, Turkey)

Ethnopharmacological relevance: This study aimed to document traditional uses of medicinal plants in the Marmaris district of south-west Anatolia and to compare this information with our current knowledge of plant medicine in Turkey and the Mediterranean countries

Euphorbia akmanii (Euphorbiaceae), a new species from Turkey

Euphorbia akmanii, a new species of Euphorbiaceae (sect. Patellares) from Turkey (Osmaniye) is described on the basis of morphological characters. The species was found in the north-west part of the Amanus Mountains growing in open deciduous forests. It can be distinguished from E. erubescens by its longer stems, pubescent leaves and fruits, unicellular hairs, petiolate-subsessile second year cauline leaves and laciniate cyathial gland appendages. Diagnostic characters, a full description, and detailed illustrations are presented. These diagnostic characters and other observations concerning the new species are presented and compared with those from species of the sect. Patellares occurring in Turkey. The new species is the only one in sect. Patellares having laciniate gland appendages and unicellular hairs. Micromorphological structures of fruit and seed surfaces of E. akmanii and E. erubescens were examined by SEM. The geographical distribution of species of sect. Patellares in Turkey is mapped. An IUCN redlist category is proposed, and observations on the habitat are provided

A cross-sectional survey of herbal remedy taking to prevent Covid-19 in Turkey

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to unprecedented challenges for human life. During this pandemic, Turkish people have used various herbal remedies for both the prevention of Covid-19 and the alleviate of its symptoms. The present study aimed to investigate the herbal remedies used to prevent Covid-19 in Turkey and to determine whether the usage of herbal remedies was associated with sociodemographic properties. A cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire was conducted between November and December 2020. A total of 871 individuals (15 years of age or older) who lived in various provinces of Turkey participated in this study. Analysis was made in SPSS version 26.0 software using the descriptive statistics and appropriate tests of statistical significance for the comparisons. About 54.4% (n = 474) of the participants reported that they have used herbal remedies during the pandemic period. We identified a total of 45 plant species, the most frequently cited were ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), linden (Tilia spp.), elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.), sage (Salvia spp.), and rosehip (Rosa canina L.), respectively. It has been found that the usage of herbal remedies was associated with several demographic variables. A considerable proportion of the participants reported the use of herbal remedies in order to prevent disease. This paper demonstrated the potential herbal remedies that can be used against Covid-19. Further research should be carried out to evaluate the efficacy of these medicinal plants and should control the flow of misleading information

The local names of the plants in Kepsut and Savastepe (Balikesir, Turkey)

Local plant names vary in Anatolia in every settlement. Ethnobotanical studies help to record local names of the used plants that may otherwise be lost to future generations. This study is the part of an ethnobotanical study which was conducted between 2012 and 2015 in order to determine wild plants used in Kepsut and Savastepe (Balikesir, Turkey). Kepsut and Savastepe are the towns of Balikesir province in the Marmara region of Turkey. As a result of the identification, the 509 local names of the 265 taxa, which are 12 of them are endemic, belonging to 72 families were recorded. According to the literature, among 509 local names, 338 local names were recorded for the first time in Balikesir

Natural dye plants in Savastepe (Balikesir, Turkey)

Natural dyes are recently becoming object of consumer interests because of the harmful effects of the synthetic dyes. The dyeing with natural colourants was one of the oldest techniques practiced by the ancient civilization people. An ethnobotanical study was conducted between 2012 and 2015 in order to determine wild plants used in Savastepe. Savastepe is a town and district of Balikesir Province in the Marmara region of Turkey. With this study, we aimed to document traditional uses of dye plants in Savastepe (Balikesir). According to the results of the identification, 15 species belonging to 12 families were used as dye source. Used parts of plants were flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, seeds and galls

Ethnoveterinary medicine in Turkey: a comprehensive review

Today, traditional societies throughout the world possess a wealth of ethnoveterinary knowledge, which they have accumulated during prolonged interaction with nature. Turkey has ample resources of ethnoveterinary medicines as evident from its rich floral diversity and traditional botanical knowledge from the past. This review aims to compile herbal remedies used in ethnoveterinary medicine in Turkey with comprehensive usage information and to compare our findings with pharmacological studies. The botanical, family, and local names; used parts; preparation methods; administration/dosage and duration of the treatment; and ailments treated/therapeutic effects were presented by screening ethnobotanical and ethnoveterinary studies. The most cited plant families, the medicinal plants, and the most common animal diseases were determined and presented in graphics. A total of 251 taxa belonging to 67 families were reported as being traditionally used to treat animal diseases in Turkey. Fabaceae (25 taxa), Asteraceae (24 taxa), Lamiaceae (19 taxa), Rosaceae (19 taxa), Apiaceae (9 taxa), Poaceae (8 taxa), and Solanaceae (7 taxa) were found as the most cited plant families. The most cited medicinal plants were Helleborus orientalis Lam. (9), Allium sativum L. (9), Juniperus oxycedrus L. subsp. oxycedrus var. oxycedrus (9), Berberis crataegina DC. (8), Pinus brutia Ten. var. brutia (7), Sambucus ebulus L. (6), Cydonia oblonga Mill. (6), and Olea europaea L. (6), respectively. These plants are frequently used to cure various animal ailments such as dermatological, gastrointestinal, and parasitic diseases. The pharmacological studies of the said plant species were also gathered and reviewed to convey the efficacy of these plants in the treatment of animal diseases. Considering the traditional usage of the reported medicinal plants, more pharmacological studies are required for confirming the effectiveness of these herbal remedies

Leaf anatomical traits of Crataegus orientalis Pall. ex M.Bieb. (Rosaceae) from Turkey

Crataegus orientalis Pall. ex M.Bieb., is a widespread species of the genus Crataegus L. (Rosaceae), which has an important place in traditional folk medicine. In this study, Crataegus orientalis subsp. orientalis and Crataegus orientalis subsp. szovitsii (Pojark.) K.I.Chr. from Turkey were investigated with regard to leaf anatomy. For this reason, transverse sections and surficial sections were taken from samples. Leaves of the both taxa was found as dorsiventral, hypostomatic and mesomorphic. Cyclocytic type stomata, simple single non-glandular trichomes and calcium oxalate crystals were defined as significant anatomical features of these taxa. All results were compared with leaf anatomical features of the Rosaceae family and the characteristics of the genus Crataegus were elucidated by detecting similarities and differences