The dichloromethane extract of the roots of Prangos hulusii, a recently described endemic species from Turkey, has yielded nine known and one new prenylated coumarins. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and direct comparison with the reference compounds where available. The root extract and its prenylated coumarins exhibit antimicrobial activity against nine standard and six clinically isolated strains at a concentration between 5 and 125 µg/mL. In particular, the new coumarin, 4′-senecioiloxyosthol (1), displayed 5 µg/mL MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) value against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 9372, murraol (4) and auraptenol (5) showed 63 µg/mL MIC value against Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 4352 and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 9372, and isoimperatorin (9) exhibited 16 µg/mL MIC value.

Context Phillyrea latifolia L. (Oleaceae), commonly found in the Mediterranean region in Turkey, is used as medicinal teas for weight loss and hyperglycaemia in folk medicine. Objective The study investigated the possible effects of P. latifolia leaves aqueous extract's on weight loss and biochemical-histological changes in the rats fed a high-energy diet (HED), also isolated and determined the main phenolic compounds. Materials and methods Twenty-four male Wistar albino rats were divided into four equal groups such as the HED group fed a HED, the PLE group given only the extract of P. latifolia leaves (220 mg/kg), the HED + PLE group administrated with the extract of leaves (220 mg/kg) after being fed with HED and a control group fed with standard pellet diet. Results PLE administration caused a remarkable decrement of body weight in the HED + PLE group (p < 0.05). PLE showed an improved effect on structural integrity and decreased leukocyte infiltration in liver and small intestinal tissues. The blood glucose (117.3 mmol/L), leptin (5.6 ng/mL), total cholesterol (61.8 mg/dL) and LDL (9.3 mmol/L) levels were significantly increased in the HED group. PLE administration in the HED group decreased these levels. The levels of HDL (26.8 mmol/L) in the HED + PLE group were higher than both control and HED groups. Chemical composition was investigated and luteolin 7-O-glucoside and chlorogenic acid were determined for the first time in Turkish sample from the EtOAc extract of leaves. Discussion and conclusion Phillyrea latifolia leaves may have beneficial effects on obesity related cellular problems and may become a good source of antidiabetic medication.

Abstract:The essential oil compositions and antimicrobial activities of two varieties of a new endemic Salvia species growing in Turkey were compared. The essential oils (EOs) were obtained from the aerial parts by hydrodistillation and were analysed by gas chromatography (GC), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The major constituents of essential oils were sabinyl acetate (79.9 -80.1 %) and α-pinene (3.2 -3.8 %) in both varieties. Such high sabinyl acetate content of an essential oil of a Salvia species has not been reported hitherto. The essential oil of Salvia sericeo-tomentosa var. sericeo-tomentosa (ST) (having MIC/MBC values of 0.3/1.25 mg/mL) showed better activity than the essential oil of Salvia sericeo-tomentosa var. hatayica (SH) (having MIC/MBC values of 0.6/1.25 mg/mL) especially against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. The ST and SH have exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA).Whereas only modest antimicrobial activity has been observed against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and any activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

In addition to the antiflatulent, emollient, antifungal, antihemorrhoidal, antioxidant, anthelmintic effects, Prangos species have been used to stop bleeding and for the treatment of wounds and scars in central Asia and Turkey. In the present study, the compounds were isolated using chromatographic methods, and their structures were identified by 1H NMR and direct comparison with the reference compounds where available. Fifteen known coumarins were isolated from the dichloromethane extract as osthol, murraol, auraptenol, peroxyauraptenol, 4'-senecioiloxyosthol, meranzin hydrate, scopoletin, umbelliferone, isoimperatorin, oxypeucedanin, oxypeucedanin hydrate, oxypeucedanin methanolate, gosferol, psoralen, and marmesin. The cytotoxic activities of all isolated compounds from dichloromethane extract of P. turcica roots were evaluated using MTT assay on human adenocarcinoma (prostate PC-3) cells. 4'-senecioiloxyosthol, oxypeucedanin methanolate, gosferol, psoralen, peroxyauraptenol and marmesin were tested for the first time on the PC-3 cell line. Osthol and peroxyauraptenol showed the highest cytotoxic activity with IC50 values of 65 and 72 µg/mL, respectively. Additionally, auraptenol, scopoletin, gosferol, psoralen, 4'-senecioiloxyosthol and dichloromethane extract of root part (Pt/R/DCM) demonstrated moderate to low cytotoxic activity. Consequently, the most potent compounds, osthol and peroxyauraptenol, may be used as a lead compound to develop effective drug substances to treat prostate cancer.