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In this study microspheres of diclofenac sodium, an anti-inflammatory agent, were prepared by utilizing a natural polysaccharide, chitosan-H. The objective of this investigation was to sustain the action of diclofenac sodium and to show the effect of various conditions on release kinetics. For this reason factorial design experiments were performed. The independent variables in the 3(3) factorial design were chitosan-H concentration, tripolyphosphate concentration and stabilization time, and in the 3(2) factorial design were chitosan-H and tripolyphosphate concentrations. The dependent variables, t50% and the total drug content were investigated by the polynomial equations. The release profiles were evaluated kinetically and the best fit was obtained by the Higuchi equation.

Elicitors have been widely used as biotic and abiotic stimulants in triggering the production of secondary metabolites in plant cell culture. The present study aimed to enhance the production of camphor and phenolic compounds and cell growth using methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and salicylic acid (SA) in the cell suspension culture of Turkish endemic species Achillea gypsicola. Various concentrations (0, 10, 50, and 100 µM) of MeJA and SA were applied to 8-day-old cell cultures. The camphor and phenolic compound contents were determined using a headspace gas chromatographic-mass spectrometer device and spectrophotometer. Increasing doses of MeJA and SA significantly enhanced the accumulation of the camphor and phenolic compounds in general. The highest amount of camphor accumulation occurred in cells treated with 100 µM MeJA (0.3449 µg/g) and 50 µM SA (0.3816 µg/g). Increasing concentrations of MeJA resulted in a significant decrease in the total anthocyanin when compared to the initial culture. The present study showed that MeJA and SA could effectively be used as potent elicitors to enhance the production of camphor and phenolic compounds, along with cell growth, in cell suspension cultures of the endemic Turkish yarrow species Achillea gypsicola.

Background: Phytochemicals also known secondary metabolites, naturally occurring in medicinal and aromatic plants, are of considerable importance for plant survival and human health. Objective: The objective of this study was to increase accumulation of caffeic acid and alkamide, using biotic and abiotic stresses conditions driving cell defense systems, in cell suspension cultures in purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.). Methods: As biotic and abiotic elicitors, yeast extract (0, 25, 50 and 100 mg l

Background: There has been considerable interest in antimicrobial activity of plant essential oils in recent years. Objectives: This research was carried out to determine morphogenetic, ontogenetic and diurnal variability in antimicrobial activity of bitter fennel essential oil. Methods: To specify morphogenetic variability, leaf and root-bulb-stalk samples taken at pre-, full and post-flowering, flower samples picked at full flowering and seed samples gathered at two seed growth stages were used. For ontogenetic and diurnal variability, whole plant samples were taken at pre-, full and post-flowering and at 9:00 am, 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm. A total of 10 microorganisms have been used to determine antimicrobial activity of essential oils with disc-diffusion and microdilution broth methods. Results: The highest inhibitory effect among leaf essential oils was observed from post-flowering samples, but essential oils of root-bulb-stalk samples of pre-flowering produced the highest antimicrobial activity. Whole plant essential oils of post-flowering samples produced higher antimicrobial activity than those of pre-and full flowering samples. Generally, inhibitory effect of seed essential oils extracted at the beginning of seed formation was higher than those of seed maturity. Daily harvesting time caused no effect on antimicrobial activity of essential oils of whole plant samples. Conclusion:The present study reveals that antimicrobial activity of bitter fennel essential oil significantly vary based on plant parts and growth stages.