Potential Use of Turkish Medicinal Plants in the Treatment of Various Diseases

Abstract

Abstract:Medicinal plants are sources of health-promoting substances, including phytochemicals and phytoalexins that comprise polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamins A, C, E and several other constituents. Many studies have indicated that medicinal plants have been used to treat human diseases for thousands of years owing to their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Medicinal plants reduce the oxidative stress in cells and prevent cancer, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative and digestive system disorders. These potential beneficial effects have been attributed to the presence of bioactive compounds that show antioxidant properties by acting as free radical scavengers or metal chelators, reducing the reactions that produce reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). Considering the importance of medicinal plants in terms of their beneficial health effects, some of the medicinally important plants grown in Turkey are covered in this review with respect to their antioxidant potential and phytochemical profile.

Screening of Polyphenol Composition and Antiradical Capacity of Wild Erica arborea: A Native Plant Species from the Portuguese Flora

“…According our results, the major individual polyphenols were quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (13% of total polyphenols identified), 5-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid (12%), kaempferol-3-Orutinoside (12%), epicatechin (11%) and myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside (8%), which are reported by literature as having important bioactive properties, such antiradical and antioxidative capacity. However, our results showed a lower antiradical activity when compared to a positive control with recognized antioxidant or antiradical activity, the ascorbic acid (Figures 2 and 3), but when compared to other medicinal plants [21,22] the E. arborea showed a moderate to higher antiradical activity.…”

Antigenotoxic and apoptotic activities of essential oil of Atalantia monophylla Correa

“…Many plant species have been reported to have significant antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. [89] Phytochemicals have emerged as drugs upon modification, and many are available in the form of crude, and more are yet to reach the market. Essential oil is one among the known secondary metabolites with immense commercial and medicinal values.…”

Evaluation of the single and combined antibacterial efficiency of essential oils for controlling Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and mixed cultures

“…8,[10][11][12][13][14] Medicinal plants, including cardamom, cumin, and dill weed, are generally used for their flavouring properties in addition to their positive effects on human health. 15 Seeds and the EOs of cumin from the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family are widely used for stimulant, antispasmodic, carminative, antimicrobial, and antioxidative effects. 16 The native source of dill is south-east Europe, although it is commercially cultivated across most parts of Europe.…”