Antimicrobial activity of Stachys rupestris Montbret et Aucher ex Benth. and inactivation of the pathogens inoculated on lab-made skin by the essential oil.

The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of Stachys rupestris essential oil and inactivation of the pathogens on lab-made skin the oil in the fight against Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. S. rupestris EO was extracted by hydrodistillation, and its contents were analyzed by GCMS. Logarithmic reduction of the pathogens inoculated on the artificial skin surface by S. rupestris EO was studied for the first time. The highest inhibition zone was 22.1 mm on C. tropicalis, while the lowest IZ was 0.1 mm on E. coli. The other zones were 20.01 mm for Acinetobacter baumannii, 20.02 mm for Enterococcus faecalis, 20.01 mm for Staphylococcus aureus, 22.03 for Candida albicans (p < 0.05). As a result, S. rupestris essential oil was effective on most of the microorganisms and might be increased to use in the treatment of skin infections in the future.

Chemical composition and in vitro cytotoxic activity of the essential oils of Stachys rupestris and Salvia heldreichiana, two endemic plants of Turkey.

The chemical composition of the essential oils of two endemic plants of Turkey, Stachys rupestris Montbret et Aucher ex Benth. and Salvia heldreichiana Boiss. ex Benth., were obtained by hydrodistillation and studied by GC and GC-MS. In all, 46 compounds were identified, 22 for S. rupestris accounting for 94.6% of the total oil and 30 for S. heldreichiana, accounting for 91.9% of the total oil. The presence of diterpenoids (50.7%) characterized the oil from S. rupestris, while S. heldreichiana oil was rich in oxygenated sesquiterpenes (78.9%).The essential oils were evaluated for their in vitro potential cytotoxic activity on three human cancer cell lines. The oil of S. rupestris showed the higher antiproliferative activity against PC-3 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines.

Focusing on the ethnobotanical uses of plants in Mersin and Adana provinces (Turkey).

This paper presents the result of a study on the herbal drugs in the herbal markets in Mersin and Adana. The data were collected through direct interviews with herbalists and customers between 2002-2005 and the popular medicinal plants were investigated. A total of 107 species belonging to 56 families were investigated and the samples were listed with their local and Latin names. The investigation includes cross-checking the disorders and their herbal cures and their recommended use stated by the local herbalists, by the parts used, and by the preparations. The cultivated species and their ethno botanical uses, are documented and extensive inventory is presented. As a result, we observed that these plants are used especially for intestinal digestive disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, (21.68%), respiratory tract system disorders (10.43%), heart-blood circulatory system disorders (8.48%), urinary tract system disorders (7.70%), skin disorders (6.48%) and others.