Cicer turcicum: A New Cicer Species and Its Potential to Improve Chickpea.

Genetic resources of the genus Cicer L. are not only limited when compared to other important food legumes and major cereal crops but also, they include several endemic species with endangered status based on the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The chief threats to endemic and endangered Cicer species are over-grazing and habitat change in their natural environments driven by climate changes. During a collection mission in east and south-east Anatolia (Turkey), a new Cicer species was discovered, proposed here as C. turcicum Toker, Berger & Gokturk. Here, we describe the morphological characteristics, images, and ecology of the species, and present preliminary evidence of its potential utility for chickpea improvement. C. turcicum is an annual species, endemic to southeast Anatolia and to date has only been located in a single population distant from any other known annual Cicer species. It belongs to section Cicer M. Pop. of the subgenus Pseudononis M. Pop. of the genus Cicer L. (Fabaceae) and on the basis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence similarity appears to be a sister species of C. reticulatum Ladiz. and C. echinospermum P.H. Davis, both of which are inter-fertile with domestic chickpea (C. arietinum L.). With the addition of C. turcicum, the genus Cicer now comprises 10 annual and 36 perennial species. As a preliminary evaluation of its potential for chickpea improvement two accessions of C. turcicum were field screened for reproductive heat tolerance and seeds were tested for bruchid resistance alongside a representative group of wild and domestic annual Cicer species. C. turcicum expressed the highest heat tolerance and similar bruchid resistance as C. judaicum Boiss. and C. pinnatifidum Juab. & Spach, neither of which are in the primary genepool of domestic chickpea. Given that C. arietinum and C. reticulatum returned the lowest and the second lowest tolerance and resistance scores, C. turcicum may hold much potential for chickpea improvement if its close relatedness supports interspecific hybridization with the cultigen. Crossing experiments are currently underway to explore this question.

Immunomodulatory, hemolytic and cytotoxic activity potentials of triterpenoid saponins from eight Cephalaria species.

BACKGROUND: Saponins isolated from a number of plants possess a broad spectrum of biological and pharmacological activities by using in vitro and in vivo bioassays. The recent investigations and findings in biological activity studies of saponins have mostly focused on immunomodulatory, hemolytic and cytotoxic properties. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: Considering the great potential of saponins as bioactive agents, we investigated the cytotoxic, hemolytic and immunomodulatory activities of nineteen triterpenoid saponins from the aerial parts of eight Cephalaria species from Turkey. STUDY DESIGN: The isolated oleanane type saponins from Cephalaria species were tested for their hemolytic, cytotoxic and immunomodulatory activities through anin vitro cell based assay systems. METHODS: HeLa, A549, and a normal cell line HEK293 were used for testing cytotoxicity using MTT method. Immunomodulatory activity was performed in stimulated whole blood cells by PMA plus ionomycin. Hemolytic activity was assessed on human erythrocytes. RESULTS: Aristatoside C (3) and davisianoside B (16) displayed significant inhibitory effects on cancerous A549 and HeLa cells, and non-cancerous HEK293 cells with IC50 values of 3.52 ± 0.11, 35.69 ± 0.50, 8.96 ± 0.62 µM and 4.08 ± 0.06, 11.74 ± 0.82, 20.43 ± 3.21 µM, respectively. Thirteen saponins out of the nineteen tested increased IL-1ß concentrations considerably, while six compounds changed IL-2 or IFN-γ levels slightly. Almost all of the saponins showed noticeable hemolysis in human erythrocyte cells based on the sugar units. CONCLUSION: In this study, almost all saponins with oleanolic acid as aglycones exhibited significant hemolysis, monodesmosidic saponins with hederagenin as aglycone were the most active compounds against lung cancer cells with greater activity than standard commercial chemotherapy drug doxorubicin and some of the hederagenin type saponins induced remarkable IL-1ß secretion.

Anatomic Studies on Verbascum pestalozzae Boiss. and Verbascum pycnostachyum Boiss. & Heldr.

OBJECTIVES: The genus Verbascum L. (Scrophulariaceae) known as "sigir kuyrugu" in Anatolia is represented by 248 species, 193 of which are endemic. The flowers contain essential oil, mucilage, and glycosides. Some species of Verbascum have some folkloric uses as expectorants, sedatives, and treatment for dysmenorrhea and rheumatalgia. Its use for healing wounds in animal care has also been reported. In this study, the anatomic structures of root, stem, and leaves of Verbascum pestalozzae Boiss. and Verbascum pycnostachyum Boiss. & Heldr. are given for the first time. According to the results, some of the differences between stem and leaf anatomic features of these species were described and the data were supported by detailed photographs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Specimens were collected from C3 Antalya: Voucher specimens of V. pestalozzae and V. pycnostachyum were deposited in the Herbarium of the Biology Department, Akdeniz University in Antalya, Turkey and Herbarium of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University in Eskisehir, Turkey. The materials were identified as V. pestalozzae and V. pycnostachyum using flora of Turkey and the East Aegean islands. For anatomic studies, samples were collected from the natural habitats and kept in 70% alcohol. In the research, root, stem and leaves of mature and flowered plants were used. Investigations were performed on the cross-sections of the root, the flowering stem, and the leaf. The anatomic structures of the species were drawn using a Leitz SM-LUX binocular microscope. All sections were embedded in glycerin gelatin and stained using Sartur reactive, and photographs were taken through a light microscope (Olympus BX51T). RESULTS: The cross sections taken from root, stem, and leaves of V. pestalozzae and V. pycnostachyum were examined and the anatomic features belonging to these plants were determined and compared. CONCLUSION: The anatomic properties belonging to the two species were generally compatible with findings of Metcalfe and Chalk and others signified in the genus. We believe that our results provide additional evidence for taxonomists to help separate the species. The lack of a taxonomic, morphologic, and anatomic study on the species made it important for the systematic introduction of the research.

Caspase-mediated Apoptotic Effects of Ebenus boissieri Barbey Extracts on Human Cervical Cancer Cell Line HeLa.

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).

Cephalaria anamurensis (Caprifoliaceae), a new species from south Anatolia, Turkey.

A new species, Cephalaria anamurensis (Caprifoliaceae) is described and illustrated from south Anatolia, Turkey. The species grows on steppe and stony places in Anamur (C4 Mersin province) in south Anatolia. Diagnostic morphological characters from closely similar taxa are discussed. The geographical distribution of the new species and two closely related species in Turkey are mapped.

Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of Ebenus boissieri Barbey on human lung cancer cell line A549.

BACKGROUND: Fabaceae family members are known to possess preventive and therapeutic potentials against various types of cancers. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of hydroalcoholic extracts from the aerial parts and roots of an endemic Ebenus species; Ebenus boissieri Barbey in human lung cancer cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After treatment with hydroalcoholic extracts cytotoxic activities of both extracts were measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, whereas caspase-3 activity, tumor necrosis factor-a lpha (TNF-α) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) releasewere measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: According to in vitro assay results, the increase in all caspases activity suggested that extracts induce cells to undergo apoptosis. Especially, induction in caspase-3 activity was the most remarkable result of this study. Both aerial part and root extracts induced apoptosis by increasing caspase-3 activity, TNF-α and IFN-γ release. When compared to their relative controls, the concentrations of both TNF-α and IFN-γ in extract-treated groups were significantly and dose dependently exalted. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our results indicate that the hydroalcoholic extracts of E. boissieri can be considered as a source of new anti-apoptotic and therefore anti-carcinogenic agent.

Glycyrrhiza flavescens subsp. antalyensis exerts antiproliferative effects on melanoma cells via altering TNF-α and IFN-α levels.

Glycyrrhiza species possess preventive and therapeutic potentials against various cancers. In the present study, we have evaluated regulation of apoptotic cell death by aqueous extracts of leaf and flower of an endemic Glycyrrhiza species; Glycyrrhiza flavescens subsp. antalyensis, in mouse melanoma cell lines. Both leaf and flower extracts induced apoptosis in terms of induction of caspase-3 activity, TNF-α and IFN-γ release. Concentrations of both TNF-α and IFN-γ in extract-treated groups were significantly and dose dependently exalted as compared to their relative controls. The effects of extracts on caspase-3, TNF-α and IFN-γ processes mediate the plausible mechanism of apoptosis induction of G. flavescens subsp. antalyensis.