Hemostatic effects of traditional Inula viscosa and Capsella bursa-pastoris plant mixture extract on rat liver parenchymal bleeding model.

BACKGROUND: Failure to achieve effective bleeding control and problems related to transfusion in liver surgery are the most common causes of post-operative mortality and morbidity. Various methods/drugs including topical hemostatic agents have been em-ployed for bleeding control in liver surgery. This study was aimed to investigate the hemostatic properties of the herb mixture extract of Inula viscosa and Capsella bursa-pastoris (IvCbp) in rat liver laceration model, which have been traditionally used as antiseptic and hemostatic agents public in Hatay/Tukey. METHODS: Thirty rats were divided into three groups equally and blood samples were taken from all rats for preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) measurements. Then, the standard liver resection model was applied to all rats. Sponge for the first rat group, Ankaferd Blood Stopper® Trend-Tech for the second rat group and IvCbp plant extract mixture for the third group were applied to resection areas for 3 minutes. Liver samples of all rats were evaluated in terms of inflammation and necrosis intensity on the 5th post-operative day. RESULTS: Post-operative Hb values were found as 11.0±1.1 g/dL in the sponge group, 11.9±2.0 g/dL in the Ankaferd group, and 14.1±1.2 g/dL in the IvCbp herb mixture group (p<0.001). In the histopathological examination, less necrosis was observed in the herb mixture group compared to the sponge and Ankaferd groups (p=0.001). In addition, no statistically significant necrosis difference was observed between sponge and Ankaferd groups. While less inflammation was observed in the herb mixture group compared to the other groups, Ankaferd group had the highest inflammation score (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: IvCbp herb mixture extract group provide effective hemostatic control, caused less Hb decrease and resulted in less inflammation and necrosis compared to Ankaferd and sponge groups in a rat liver resection model.

Ethnobotany of medicinal plants used in Antakya: A multicultural district in Hatay Province of Turkey.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: We have compiled information about the medicinal plants used in folk medicine in the district of Antakya. Since its establishment by King Seleucus I in 300 B.C., Antakya (old Antioch) has hosted nearly 20 civilizations. Antakya, neighboring Northwestern Syria, is located on the western end of the "Silk Road" and was one of the great centers of Graeco-Roman world. Today, Antakya is a cosmopolitan city in which Arabic and Turkish are widely spoken, and where distinct ethnic and religious communities, such as Arab Alawite, Arab Christian, Arab Sunni, Turk Sunni, Armenian, and Jewish, have been living together in harmony for centuries. In addition, the rich flora in the vicinity of Antakya also renders the area interesting in terms of ethnobotanical fieldwork. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to compile the information about plants used for medicinal purposes by local people in the district of Antakya. This city is a significant region in terms of ethnobotanical fieldwork, owing to its cosmopolitan structure, long history, relatively preserved traditional community structure, and rich flora. Furthermore, we sought to compare the ethnomedicinal data geographically, cross-culturally, and historically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ethnobotany of medicinal plants used in the district of Antakya has been investigated through two separate studies; one was conducted in 1975, interviewing 29 people, and the other was conducted in 2011-2013, interviewing 182 people. The use value (UV) and informant consensus factor (FIC) values of the plants were calculated. In order to interpret the authenticity and sources of the compiled ethnomedicinal information, previous publications that contain information about the similar medicinal uses of plants identified in our region were reviewed and evaluated meticulously. A comparison with the data obtained from other regions of Turkey and from other Mediterranean regions, as well as a cross-cultural analysis between the ethnic groups within the study area, was performed by implementation of the Jaccard index (JI) RESULTS: Throughout the study, information about 202 medicinal plant taxa was compiled. Among these plants, 39 have either not yet been mentioned in ethnobotanical or medicinal studies, or have been used for a medicinal purpose other than those encountered in the literature review. The ethnomedicinal information we gathered from the study area exhibits close similarities to the ethnomedicinal information of other Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries where Arabic is spoken, as well as to that of Northern and Western Mediterranean countries where Latin languages are spoken. In addition to these similarities, in most cases, this ethnomedicinal information shows hybrid features of ethnomedicinal knowledge from Eastern and Western Mediterranean countries. CONCLUSION: Based on a literature survey, we found that the cited medicinal uses for 43 plants have also been corroborated by other various biological testings. This finding strongly suggests the importance of ethnobotanical studies in the development of new medicines. We believe that this study has compiled rich ethnomedicinal information that reflects the cosmopolitan structure of Antakya in a very good way.

Phenolic composition, antioxidant capacity of Salvia verticcilata and effect on multidrug resistant bacteria by flow-cytometry.

BACKGROUND: Antioxidants are of great importance for preventing oxidative stress that may cause several degenerative diseases. Studies have indicated phytochemicals have high free-radical scavenging activity, which helps to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. The aim of the present study is the determination of antioxidant properties, polyphenolic content and multidrug resistant bacteria of Salvia verticcilata L. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Methanol was used as the extraction solvent. The total phenolic content was calculated using Folin-Ciocalteau method and phenolic composition was determined by HPLC. The radical scavenging activity of plant was evaluated in vitro based on the reduction of the stable DPPH free radical. The reducing capacity was identified by using the FRAP method. The ability of Salvia verticcilata L. to increase the permeability of multidrug resistant bacterial cells was conducted by flow cytometric assay on Listeria innocua and E-coli. RESULTS: The amount of total phenolics was found to be 347.5 mg GA/g extract. The IC50 value and FRAP assay are 0.61, and 0.944 respectively, Free radical scavenging effect and FRAP values are less than synthetic antioxidant compounds (BHA and BHT). Eight phenolic compounds were found in Salvia verticcilata L. Intense concentration of S. verticcilata L. has destroyed 97 % of living cells for Listeria innocua and 94.86% for E-coli. CONCLUSION: This study shows that methanolic extracts of Salvia verticcilata L. is a potential source of natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agent and can form the basis for pharmacological studies.

Humulane and germacrane sesquiterpenes from Ferula lycia.

Five new juniferol esters (1-5), along with six known humulane derivatives (6-11), were isolated from the roots of Ferula lycia, an endemic Turkish species. The fruits of the same species were also investigated and led to the isolation of these same compounds, as well as two known germacrane esters (12 and 13). All isolated sesquiterpenes were assayed for cytotoxicity against two tyrosine kinase inhibitor-resistant cell lines, K562R and DA1-3b/M2(BCR-ABL). The two most active compounds, juniferinin (7) and 6-beta-p-hydroxybenzoyloxygermacra-1(10),4-diene (12), were moderately active against Raji lymphoma cells but also displayed some toxicity against healthy bone marrow cells.